Bike Bus

FUN, SAFE, PHYSICAL ACTIVITY FOR KIDS BIKING TO AND FROM SCHOOL!

A Bike Bus is a variation of the walking school bus. A Bike Bus provides students the opportunity to bike to and from school with an adult volunteer. Bike Buses can be a great fit for communities that wish to encourage more bicycling to and from school. If you are already ride a bike, you likely have some ideas of the benefits and considerations of leading a student Bike Bus.

Have Fun - Bike Buses have many benefits!

It increases supervision, safety, and fun for students who already walk.
It permits additional students to bike, introducing them to an important and easy habit.
It promotes a healthy active routine for students to and from school.
It reduces auto traffic, particularly near schools during drop-off and pick-up times.
It creates a sense of community by getting neighbors to take turns as bus drivers.

HOW DOES IT WORK?

Meeting Location: The group meets at a designated Meeting Location and follows a planned route.
Hop on, Hop Off: Live along the route? Students can join at any point along the route.
Park and Bike: Drop off or pick up your student at Meeting Location
Live too far from school? You can drop off your student at your school’s meeting location – Park and Bike.

Participation in the Bike Bus is voluntary. By joining, families acknowledge that parents or guardians are solely responsible for the care, supervision, and safety of their children before, during, and after the event.

To request information about Bike Bus, contact Safe Routes to School Coordinator Wyle O'Neill at woneill@ridesmart.com

WANT TO START A BIKE BUS FOR YOUR SCHOOL?

Complete our Bike Bus Interest Form to help us organize a Bike Bus at your school or contact Safe Routes to School Coordinator Wyle O'Neill at woneill@ridesmart.com to get one started!

Remember the program can always grow; it often makes sense to start with a small bus and see how it works.

Start by checking with your school to see if other families or kids are already biking to school together - maybe you could join in!
If your school doesn't have a bike bus, are there any families in your neighborhood who might be interested?
Choose a route (or routes) and test it with adults for safety. Contact Safe Routes to School for assistance choosing a safe route.
Create a simple map of your route with information about when you'll meet (e.g., day, time, frequency).
Post a bike bus article in your school newsletter and on your school’s website. Share the map you created. Your school parent teacher association is also a great place to promote your bike bus.

Ensure that bike bus participants have the following:

A safe, properly maintained, and well-fitted bicycle (or scooter)
A well-fitted helmet
Some practice riding in the street (i.e., a bike bus is not the best place to learn how to ride)
Secure two adult volunteers to ride with the students, one at the front of the train and one at the back, to ensure student safety and comfort.
Establish expectations with your participants and review safe group riding skills. Riding safely in the street requires practice and protocol. Contact Safe Routes to School staff for information.
Start leading your bike bus!

If you want to reach more students and have multiple routes, the following are ideas for doing so.

Build a team of interested volunteers who can lead different routes.
Identify safe routes for students coming from various locations.
Designate convenient meeting places that are safe and have sufficient space for bikes to gather.
Develop a phone tree so it is easy to communicate with bike bus/train leaders.

Wilsonville Bike Buses

Lowrie Bike Bus - Start at the Villabois Skate Park. Depart at 7:30am to arrive at Lowrie Primary at 7:40am. Meet us at the starting point or along the route.