Join the Bike Bus!
We're excited that you're thinking of joining the bike bus! Here's some information to help you understand what the bike bus is and how we do it.
When we ride
Bike bus happens every Friday in term time. If there is a weather warning (usually ice or snow) from the Met Office we check conditions in the morning and make a decision by 8 o'clock whether to ride as usual or become a “walking bus” for the day.
Make sure you join the WhatsApp group to receive updates.
Where we meet
Our route and timings are below. Join us at one of the stops if you can, or on route otherwise.
How it works
On each journey some grown-ups have special jobs.
Any adult is welcome to volunteer for these roles once they've ridden with the group a few times and understand how they work.
Leader
Rides the the front and sets the pace. Everyone in the main group follows the leader and makes sure to stay behind them.
Sweeper
Rides at the back and makes sure no-one gets left behind or separated from the bike bus.
Junction helpers
Create a safe passage by pausing in the road until the whole bike bus has navigated a junction.
Grown-ups who aren't doing the above jobs space themselves along the right hand side to create a "wall" between lanes.
Staying safe
Following a few important rules helps us keep every journey as safe as possible:
Every child has a grown-up watching out for them. Each grown-up looks after no more than three children under the age of nine.
Children go on the left and grown-ups go on the right.
Everyone stays between the leader and the sweeper.Everyone stays on the left side of the road.
Grown-ups can be on the centre line but no further over.
This is as important on side-streets as on big roads because junction helpers need to get past in both directions.
Things you need
It's the law to use lights when it's dark. Helmets and high-visibility vests are also a very good idea.
You can buy a vest with our logo on for £6.50 or we have some unbranded ones provided by the council for free.
Social media
We often post pictures and videos to Twitter and these can be shared to other platforms. Please let us know if you do not wish to be included in these.
Lastly
Have fun! It's not as formal as it may sound.
At the end of the day we're a bunch of parents and carers trying to get our kids to school on their bikes and scooters on Fridays. That's it!
If you have any questions please just ask - we're a friendly bunch. Post in the WhatsApp group or email us. You can also follow us on Twitter where you'll find pictures and videos of the bike bus over the last few months.