Have you ever heard the phrase “bike bus?” Neither had I, until last week, when I first heard about Cedar Ridge Elementary’s weekly community bike ride to school.
In simple terms, a bike bus is simply a group of kids riding their bikes to school together. A few students, led by an adult “driver” start at one end of a designated route and make their way through town, picking up other students and parents along the way.
Jake Hanks, the Cedar Ridge parent who started the bike bus last fall, leads the procession each Friday morning with a speaker and bubble machine. What started off with just his kids and neighbors has grown to at times include over 100 students, parents and community members.
Friday morning, the last day of school, I joined the bike bus as it followed its usual route. Hanks led the way in a high visibility vest, music and bubbles trailing behind him.
We started with about 10 people at the top of the route, but by the time we arrived at the school, the procession had grown to over 100.
“We play music and just have a good time going to school,” Hanks said. “It helps the kids wake up, get their heart going for the day.”
Hanks originally found out about the idea from news articles about a coach in Portland, Oregon who did a similar thing, and felt that it was something Cedar Ridge needed.
Bike bus is actually a global community, though there are only a few in Utah.
Hanks said the Cedar Ridge bike bus has been a huge success, and something that brings the community together.
He said they plan to start it back up again in the fall, and he would love to see the idea catch on at other schools in the valley.
Cache County School District Superintendent Todd McKee echoed that sentiment.
“I’d love to see it grow,” McKee said. “I think there’s the benefit of community, kids coming in excited, they’re having fun. That’s how you want to start school every day.”
Chris and Deidra Heartwell have two kids who ride in the bike bus, and they ride along.
“It’s just a fun way to start the day,” Chris said.
“And the community feel of it is really fun and exciting,” Deidra added.
Chris said his kids enjoy it and always look forward to it.
The Cedar Ridge group only bikes to school together on Friday mornings, not on the way home.
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We welcome comments, however there are some guidelines:
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