Bike Bus Programs Turn the School Commute Into a Group Ride

Parent-led "bike bus" routes gather kids at set stops each morning for a supervised group ride to school.Modeled loosely on walking school buses, the rides follow a fixed route and schedule, picking up more children at each stop along the way, with volunteer adults riding at the front and back. Organizers say the format has cut car drop-off congestion noticeably at participating schools while giving kids a dose of exercise and independence before the school day even starts. Cities running pilot programs report requests to add new routes outpacing the supply of volunteer ride leaders.