An unknown person said “If you want to touch the past, touch a rock. If you want to touch the present, touch a flower. If you want to touch the future, touch a life.” Bike Bus World is touching lives, connecting and transforming communities and helping the planet one bike ride at a time through the “simple act of riding bikes to school together.” Sam Balto, a physical education teacher at Alameda Elementary school in northeast Portland Oregon is co-founder of Bike Bus World and shared some of his time to talk about this incredible movement and organization where two wheels are moving bodies and changing lives.
“Picture this. Children feel the joy of freedom. Communities bond while pedaling. The chore of getting to school is a delight. Our daily actions are a climate solution. Wellbeing is prioritized on streets. Children have independence in their lives. The sound of traffic is quiet. The sound of laughter is vibrant. Our world heals and grows anew. This dream is happening today.” Bike Bus World
Sam stumbled upon a video of a Bike Bus in Barcelona and was instantly intrigued. Being curious he wanted to learn more about the Bike Bus and how they work. In the past Sam had organized walking school buses, yet a Bike Bus had a different appeal. Soon after the first Bike Bus rolled out in Portland Oregon where a group of elementary school students with community members rode together to school.
“Bike Buses have joy, positivity, community feel, and transformative energy.” Bike Bus World
Currently there are over two hundred Bike Buses in the USA as well as Bike Buses in other parts of the world. The number of people creating new Bike Bus communities continues to grow. Bike Bus World designed this organization in a manner to make it an easy to follow, simple process for anyone to organize a Bike Bus in their community. While the majority of Bike Buses focus on students in elementary schools, they can be organized for students in middle school and high school. All are welcome in Bike Bus World.
“Starting a Bike Bus is as simple as finding a few other children and families who want to bike to school together, creating the route, picking a time, and getting on your bikes. It just takes one person who’s motivated to start a Bike Bus.” Bike Bus World
Here is how a Bike Bus works. A person connected with a school from a school staff, parent and even a student can begin a Bike Bus. The riding route is determined, along with the time to begin. Flyers are distributed throughout the community and anyone can join who wants to participate in the fun. Sam shared neighbors will often come outside to cheer the bike riders. Bike Buses need to occur more than once a year and often Bike Buses will choose one day a week to ride every week. The website of Bike Bus World has a simple and detailed step-by-step of how to plan and organize a Bike Bus. Having two adults involved, one for the front and one for the back is optimal yet some Bike Buses function with one adult and one student. Bike Buses ride during all kinds of weather as long as it is safe. Bike Buses are designed to have students arrive at school in the morning. As the riders ride to school multiple skills are being developed. Navigating and adjusting to how other riders are riding their bikes, trusting the leader and fellow riders, communication skills, and teambuilding are some skills learned. Everyone becomes enriched through the Bike Bus experience. School administrators and staff have reported when students arrive at school they are calm, confident, and glow with accomplishment and achievement. Bike Bus World is thrilled when new Bike Buses organize and get rolling.
“Your bike is a discovery; your bike is freedom. It doesn’t matter where you are when you’re on the saddle, you’re taken away.” Unknown
Kindness Champions is elated to shine our spotlight on Bike Bus World. Coach Sam Balto calls this movement “nostalgia in motion” which is wheeling out positive benefits such as improving health, wellbeing, and mental health of students, connecting communities, along with protecting our planet by reducing car traffic, noise, and pollution. This growing movement is leading the way for students and adults to ride to school en masse where pedal power and spinning wheels create joy, laughter, healing, and connection one bike, one person at a time. We thank you for being you and bringing your awesomeness to the world.
For more information on this incredible organization here is their information:
Website: https://bikebus.world/
X (formerly twitter): @BikeBusWorld https://x.com/BikeBusWorld
Instagram: @bikebusworld https://www.instagram.com/BikeBusWorld
TicTok: @bikebusworld https://www.tiktok.com/@bikebusworld
