All aboard the bike bus!

St. Boniface

Students in southeast Winnipeg are discovering a fun new way to get to school.

Over the past few years, bike buses have brought kids to school across the Louis Riel School Division, usually one day a week in May and June. Schools including École Provencher and École Henri-Bergeron in St. Boniface, École Howden in Windsor Park, École St. Germain in River Park South, and Sage Creek School have all organized group rides. These bike buses follow set routes with predetermined starting points and scheduled stops, making it easy for students to join along the way.

A group leader sets the pace and guides the ride. Marshals support the group by controlling intersections so riders can pass safely. A sweep rider stays at the back to ensure no one gets left behind.

The bike bus movement began in Portland, Ore., in 2010, but didn’t really take off in the United States until 2022, when Sam Balto, a physical education teacher, led an Earth Day ride that went viral on TikTok. In the spring of 2023, my friend Suzanne Simpson, a teacher at École Provencher, approached me about starting a bike bus for my children’s schools. I agreed, and we reached out to the principal at École Provencher, David Charney, who was more than happy to help us find a way to make it happen.

We held our first ride that spring, with 11 children and seven parents eager to try riding to school together. For that first trip, I outfitted my cargo bike with three large speakers to play music and create a fun, lively atmosphere. I packed the box with kids’ backpacks, freeing them to ride unencumbered by their school gear. The kids had a blast, and we considered the first ride a great success. We continued the weekly rides, and they grew in popularity and size. Our most recent École Provencher / École Henri-Bergeron bike bus attracted upwards of 70 enthusiastic riders!

The bike bus movement has grown significantly and is supported by a group of teachers under the banner of Educators for Climate Action. Suzanne and I shared our experience with other teachers. We found many educators are eager to bring bike buses to their school communities. In the springs of 2024 and 2025, and again this year, with support from our partners at Bike Winnipeg, we’ve trained ride leaders, marshals, and sweeps at Louis Riel School Division schools on how to guide children to school safely.

This spring, the bike bus movement expanded into the Winnipeg School Division, with new routes in River Heights at École Robert H. Smith and Earl Grey School. Those of us with experience running bike buses have been busy sharing guidance, offering training, and providing support to help ensure their success. As of this writing, several rides have been well-attended and successful despite cold temperatures, snow, high winds, and a heat dome.

If you’d like to start a bike bus at your school, please reach out. We’re happy to share how!