Want to ditch the drop-off line? Maybe there’s a Bike Bus in your kid’s future
It’s that time of year when many parents are hunting down elusive school supplies, buying new lunch boxes and dreading the interminable drop-off and pickup lines.
But how many are checking the tires on their kids’ bikes?
In 1969, 48% of children walked or biked to school. By 2017, that had dwindled to 11%, according to the National Center for Safe Routes to School.
“That’s a huge concern,” Chicago Family Biking founder Rebecca Resman said at an Active Transportation Alliance forum Wednesday.
To boost those numbers and keep students safe on the way, Resman and other advocates across the globe are advancing the “bike bus” solution.
Essentially, it’s a group of kids led by parent volunteers cycling together to school on a designated route.
Just 35% of children living within a mile of their school bike to class. “That’s where I see a huge opportunity” to get parents and kids out of frustratingly long car lines, Resman said.
“This is not how it needs to be.”
About 20 Bike Bus groups are active in Chicago and the suburbs, including in Downers Grove, Glen Ellyn and Woodridge.
The results are “we have healthier, safer schools because you have people that are more physically active. There’s also less congestion around the schools. There’s less people driving and healthier air,” Resman noted.
Bike buses also build a community, advocates say.
“So often people are in their cars, (on) their phones, and they’re not really connecting with their school community and their community at large,” said Resman, a former ATA staffer.
Children have reported better focus and confidence in the classroom on Bike Bus days.
“And, it cannot be understated — Bike Bus is fun,” Resman added.
How to coordinate a Bike Bus in your neighborhood?
Tips, strategies and other resources are available on chicagofamilybiking.org and BikeBus.World.
“You’re not alone, and I have some shortcuts to help along the way,” Resman told prospective Bike Bus organizers.
First-timers should build a team of other interested parents to bike with the group and assist with traffic. Ideally, they should include a pro-cycling school administrator or teacher, she suggests.
Logistics include planning a safe route, figuring out where to rendezvous with other cyclists, and how many Bike Bus days to offer.
It’s also important to market the program through school channels or on social media.
Bike Bus organizers have received support from gym teachers, local cycling groups and community police officers, advocates said.
In cases where school districts voiced reservations, a one-time Bike Bus event can prove its merits and popularity, Resman said.
Ultimately, though, it’s up to the parents, she added.
Leigh Marcus started a Bike Bus in Wilmette this May with seven participants.
“On our first day, we had a police escort, which was great, crossing over Green Bay Road to the school.” Along with three officers on bikes, “we met up with this group of kids already riding to school and they joined along.”
In the end, the group totaled about 35.
“It was awesome,” Marcus said.
Got a comment or question? Email mpyke@dailyherald.com.
Upcoming
Speaking of bikes, it’s the 25th anniversary of the ATA’s beloved Bike the Drive. Thousands of cyclists of all ages typically show up to the event, which clears DuSable Lake Shore Drive of cars and opens it up to bikes. This year’s event is Sunday, Sept. 6. To learn more and register, visit https://bikethedrive.org
You should know
Pace bus officials recently celebrated a new VanGo program at the Geneva Metra station. For $5 a day, licensed drivers aged 21 and older can use the service for commutes within 13 miles. VanGo “is designed to close first-mile/last-mile gaps and make it easier for workers to reach job opportunities within a local service zone,” officials explained.
Users must register in advance. For more information, go to pacebus.com/vango.