MONTCLAIR, N.J. (AP) – On a sunny fall morning in Montclair, New Jersey, children in helmets and backpacks gathered with their parents to ride bikes in groups to two local elementary schools. Volunteers in orange safety vests made sure everyone gathered in a nearby shopping area was ready before the riders set out on the five-mile “bike bus” route.
Every few blocks, adults and children on bicycles joined in. Eventually, the group grew to more than 350 people. Older students chatted with friends while younger students focused on pedaling. Cars along the way stopped to let the line of bicycles pass. Students and parents departed for the first school, while the rest arrived at the group’s final destination.
It’s a familiar Friday scene in Montclair. For the past three years, my children go to school by bicycle has grown into a weekly ritual and a regular commute for many families.
“It was so much fun,” said Gigi Drucker, a student who arrived at Nishuan Elementary School. “The best way to get to school is by bike, because you get more exercise. It’s also healthier for the planet,” she added.
But according to organizer Jessica Tillyer, riding to school on two wheels is more than just a game. She believes a weekly bike ride together helps promote healthy habits It benefits the children and strengthens the sense of community among parents.
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“It really started because a small group of us (about five parents) wanted to bike to school with our kids, but we didn’t feel safe. And for me, riding alone to school felt kind of lonely. So the bike bus started as just a small initiative, and now up to 400 people can ride to school together,” Tillyer said.
The bike-bus movement is not new. There are hundreds of them across America and europeAccording to Bike Bus World, a non-profit organization that promotes and provides information about bicycle buses, it is available in Australia, Brazil, India, Indonesia, and Israel, as well as Australia, Brazil, India, Indonesia, and Israel.
said co-founder Sam Barto, who founded Bike Bus in Portland, Oregon, more than three years ago. Interest increased He even offers free coaching calls to help others launch their own coaching businesses. He estimates there are more than 400 lines around the world, and that number continues to grow.
“Kids and families are craving community and physical activity and the outdoors. And when you compare that to a school car line, people will naturally gravitate toward something that’s very fun and community-driven,” Barto said.
Organizers hope the bike bus movement will not only get more kids on bikes, but also encourage elected officials in the U.S. and abroad to invest in safer transportation options. bicycle infrastructure.
It may not be difficult to start a bicycle bus service, but it takes a lot more effort to keep it running year-round, regardless of the season. Successful ride organizers shared advice for parents looking to build their own rides.
planning and communication
Andrew Hawkins, one of the Montclair Bike Bus leaders, said once enough families express interest, the first step is to carefully plan the route. This means you need to identify low-traffic streets while considering your starting point and how many students can join along the way.
“It took us a while to find a route we were happy with, but we’re still ready to make adjustments as needed,” Hawkins said. “Things can change. New groups of students may move to certain blocks, traffic patterns may change, so we have to adapt.”
The Montclair Group started through word of mouth and social media posts. As the number of participants grew, organizers created a chat group to coordinate and share weekly updates. We also reached out to other families through PTAs, school forums, and other parent communication channels.
Some parents say the bike bus has had the unexpected benefit of encouraging their children to get up earlier on Friday mornings and go outside.
“My son is more excited to get out of bed on the bike bus than on the regular bus, so it’s actually easier for me to get him ready for school,” said Jean Gaikoff, who went for a bike ride with her son one recent morning.
To maintain momentum throughout the year, the Montclair Bike Bus team organizes themed rides on weekends and holidays. These events also allow families who can’t make it on weekday mornings to experience what a bike bus is like before getting on their regular schedule.
Start young and progress slowly.
The Montclair Bike Bus consists of adult-led groups and routes that visit every elementary school and two middle schools in town. Organizers believe that the primary years are where children would benefit most from cycling in groups. During the first few years of school, students learn about riding bikes safely, and as they grow older they can apply those skills when riding on their own or in small groups.
Montclair parents have found that most elementary school students can do well over distances of 3 to 5 miles, and since groups move at speeds of about 9 miles per hour, younger children can keep up.
“The slower speeds can be tough for older kids who want to go a little faster,” Hawkins said. “We tell them there’s no competition on the bike bus. Everyone arrives at school at the same time. But sometimes we’ve had to split the ride into two groups so the older kids can go a little faster than the younger kids.”
Stay consistent no matter the weather
Balto and Hawkins say keeping bike buses running year-round requires consistency, and that means being prepared to pedal when it’s raining or cold outside. Leaders will monitor the weather forecast and decide whether to cancel Friday’s ride due to dangerous conditions or proceed as planned while reminding families to dress appropriately.
“As the weather gets colder, we are reminding everyone to make sure they have the proper equipment, including gloves, neck warmers and warm jackets,” Hawkins said. “The idea is that we want kids to be able to ride comfortably all year round.”
Montclair Bike Bus secured reflective vests and bike lights from sponsors to increase visibility on dark winter mornings. Leaders also carry basic maintenance tools, such as a tire pump.
According to Barth, the weather is often more of a concern to adults than to children. “Kids want to be outside with their friends,” he says. “If you’re going to do this in any weather, do it consistently. People will get used to it and start joining you.”
just do it
While running a regularly scheduled bike bus service requires all the planning and coordination, experienced organizers say the key is just getting started. Balto said it could be as informal as two families driving to school together and sharing flyers to spread the word.
“If you do it consistently, once a week, once a month, once a season, you’ll grow,” he says.
Tillyer said she has the same advice for people who ask how to get started: “Just do it.”
“Don’t ask for permission. Don’t worry about what it will cost,” she said. “Find a small group and ride your bike to school. Once people experience it and enjoy it, more people will want to join.”
