Bike Buses: A Global Trend in Active School Transportation

The international conversation around active and sustainable transportation for children has taken an exciting turn with the rise of the bike bus – an innovative method of commuting that brings the classroom and the community closer together while fostering healthy habits. Originating in European cities like Barcelona, the trend has now caught momentum globally, revolutionizing the way kids travel to school.

The roots of the bike bus phenomenon trace back to 2020 in Spain when two teachers from El Petit Miguel school in Vic decided to accompany nine children to school by bicycle. Navigating through the busiest and most polluted streets in the Osona region, the program was halted due to the pandemic but found new life in the fall of the same year. The local population demanded a secure cycling infrastructure, and thus, the “BusBici” was born. The concept has grown organically and swiftly since its inception. As of now, 40 bus lines have been launched in the Barcelona Metropolitan Area with 790 participants, and the numbers are increasing each week.

On the other side of the pond, the bike bus movement has been gaining significant momentum as well. Sam Balto, a physical education teacher in Portland, Oregon, took inspiration from the success of the bike bus model in Barcelona and started a similar project in his school, Alameda Elementary. Balto’s bike bus initiative quickly turned into a weekly event, bringing together more than 100 students every Wednesday in a two-wheeled parade to class.

“I’ve always felt like something was missing in student transportation. People are craving more community-centered options for how their children get to school. With the pandemic and resulting isolation, just the joy of the bike buses sparked something in people. We’re creating that sense of community, and seeing the children thrive. I think people love a community coming together for the children,” Balto remarked on the widespread and positive reaction to the project.

The bike bus trend caught the attention of academics and urban planning specialists worldwide, leading to the first international bike bus summit. Representatives from several cities and countries, including Glasgow (Scotland), Cardiff (Wales), Worcester (England), Frankfurt (Germany), Vic, and Barcelona, convened to discuss the bike bus phenomenon. Researchers from universities such as the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, the Barcelona Institute for Global Health, and the University of Strathclyde in Glasgow also contributed to the discourse.

The summit led to the creation of the Barcelona Declaration on the Bicycle Bus, which eloquently encapsulated the spirit of the movement: “#BikeBus is joy and freedom. Community bike rides to school make kids happier, more awake, and ready to learn. Our community becomes more connected and resilient. We demonstrate that our streets can be for children too. As a #BikeBus community, we demand that our political leaders prioritize urban space and resources for child-friendly, healthy, and safer streets.”

The proliferation of bike bus models is now being actively encouraged with a focus on networking, expansion, and information sharing. Gareth Johnson, representing the Shawlands Bike Bus in Glasgow, Scotland, at the summit, expressed that the real-life connections, shared learning, and collective support were moving and affirming.

“Recognising our differences, but crucially finding the commonalities and discussing how to break down barriers and scale bike buses was incredibly useful. I leave with a renewed determination to make change, to grow the movement, and ultimately get more kids safely to school on their bikes,” Johnson said.

As we look to the future, the bike bus trend is more than just a novel way of getting to school; it is a testament to the communities’ resilience and adaptability. The bike bus programs globally are living proof that environmental awareness, public health, and community-building can all be achieved simultaneously. They represent a commitment to cultivating a more sustainable and healthier future for the children.

This movement seems poised to become a staple in child transportation, changing the narrative from passive commutes to active, engaging journeys. It’s a future where streets are less congested, air quality improves, and children can connect with their peers outside the classroom walls, even before the school bell rings.

As Balto puts it, “We want to demonstrate to cities and states that children biking or walking to school is the norm, not the exception. The Bike Bus is more than a trend; it’s a movement towards a brighter, healthier, and more connected future.”