Sustainability Spotlight: Family-led Bike Buses
December’s Sustainability Spotlight is shining on family-led bike buses around the district! Last month, LPS Sustainability and Community Learning Centers Community Builder Ron Kellogg met with bike bus organizers from three schools to learn more about how they got started and what keeps them pedaling forward.
LPS parent Joe Dauer has organized the Riley Elementary Bike Bus since 2023. With support from school administrators and the Riley CLC program, the bike bus grew from five original participants to 15 consistent student cyclists this school year.
The bike bus plays music along its route each Tuesday morning, with neighbors and other cyclists recognizing and celebrating the group as they pass by. Dauer said that his initial concern about how other parents might receive the idea quickly faded once the community saw how much their kids enjoyed riding their bikes to school.
"A lot of parents don't realize how low-stress it is to bike to school."
Sarah and Matt Blankenau started a bike bus of their own this school year after hearing Dauer speak at an informational session this spring. The Blankenaus had considered starting a bike bus to Cavett Elementary School for some time, but Dauer’s advice to start small and have fun helped the couple get rolling this year.
Matt Blankenau said that the physical activity and opportunity to socialize with peers help the 12-15 Cavett Bike Bus riders arrive at school calm and ready for their day. Sarah Blankenau shared that biking with their children to school adds value to her mornings, as well.
“It’s really fun; I feel like I’m a kid again,” she said, “And it’s actually faster.”
Kyle McLaughlin, Brownell Elementary School parent and bike bus organizer, agreed that bike bus mornings are some of the smoothest in his household, too. He said that his kids wake up, get dressed and help get him out the door in plenty of time because they are so excited to bike to school.
McLaughlin contributes to active transportation plans as part of his profession, and began bringing that expertise into his own neighborhood a little over a year ago. Roughly half a dozen Brownell students now join the Thursday morning bike bus each week, and McLaughlin said he is excited to see how his group and the larger bike bus movement both grow.
"The biggest thing is just committing to something."
We appreciate and admire the initiative and dedication each one of these LPS parents displays in leading a bike bus for their school community!
The group shared so many insights into starting and maintaining a successful bike bus as each member told their story. Listed below are some of those suggestions, plus additional resources to help kick off a bike bus of your own!
Recommendations
- Start small: just a few neighbors once a week is a great way to introduce the bike bus
- Use a dedicated group chat to communicate with other families
- Consider organizing a bike rodeo to help build awareness and encourage bike skills and safety
- A maximum 3:1 student to adult ratio helps keep the bike bus safe and fun for students of all ages
- Reach out to your school’s principal for support promoting the bike bus to families in other parts of your school community
Resources
- Joe Dauer’s Creating a Lincoln Bike Bus presentation
- Bike Bus World: How to Start a Bike Bus
- LPS Sustainable Transportation Guide
Photos courtesy of Joe Dauer
Updated December 4, 2024
