Join the BCS Bike Bus!
Bike buses are taking Portland and the nation by storm (check out Alameda Elementary’s bike bus!). Beverly Cleary School students (and their adults) are invited to “get on the bus” and enjoy an active, social way of getting to school. See the map below for meet-up times and locations. Participants can also join the Bike Bus from any location along the route.
Key Details
Wednesday mornings, rain or shine! Departing various “bus stops” as early as 8:10 am, depending on location (see map below).
Bike Bus Rules:
- All Bike Bus participants under the age of 16 must wear a helmet, in accordance with Oregon law. Find helmet fitting guidance here.
- All Bike Bus participants must ride a safe, well-maintained bicycle. Find bike maintenance tips here.
- Bike Bus participants should be confident riders, though they don’t need to be well-practiced in riding on the street. We’ll cover expectations and safe group riding skills together.
- The Bike Bus is an official program of the BCS PTA. Adult volunteers will be present, but participants ride at their own risk.
NOTE: We are always looking for more adult volunteers to ride along and help supervise! Sign up to volunteer.
QUESTIONS? Check out our FAQs below or email Liz Turnbull at BCSBikeBus@gmail.com.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a Bike Bus?
A bike bus is a fun, active way of getting to school. Students gather with their bikes at points along a fixed route, and adult volunteers lead the way to school. The concept of a bike bus isn’t new, but it really took off a couple of years ago when Sam Balto of Alameda Elementary School (yes, the one in Portland) gained national recognition for the bike bus he started.
What are the benefits of a Bike Bus?
Bike buses have so many benefits! Students have a chance to be active and social before school begins, which can enhance learning outcomes. Bike buses reduce car traffic around school, increasing pedestrian safety and cutting air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. Students learn road safety and an appreciation for active transportation, which are lifelong skills. Some bike buses have become important advocacy voices in their communities, successfully lobbying for safer pedestrian and cycling infrastructure around their schools. The bike bus can help build community and most of all, it’s really fun!
How can my student participate in the Bike Bus?
Show up! If they’re feeling nervous, encourage them to show up with a friend or sibling (and/or offer to join them!).
Do we need to register for the Bike Bus?
No registration necessary!
Do I need to participate in the Bike Bus along with my student?
Kids can participate in the Bike Bus on their own, but adults are welcome and sometimes very much needed as volunteers. If you do send your kid on their own, be advised that adult volunteers will be present, but participants ride at their own risk.
How can I help support the Bike Bus?
You can volunteer to ride along with the Bike Bus to supervise (sign up to volunteer). You can cheer on the Bike Bus if it passes by your house. You can encourage your student to join the Bike Bus. If you own or know of a business that might be interested in sponsoring the Bike Bus, we’d welcome that as well!
Where will the Bike Bus go?
The initial Bike Bus route can be seen above, along with meeting times. Participants can join at one of the “bus stops,” or can join anywhere along the route as the Bike Bus rolls through. The route has some slight elevation gain in some areas, but no hills. Over time, we hope to expand the Bike Bus with multiple routes that serve all neighborhoods where Beverly Cleary School students live.
Bus Stop Departure Times/Locations:
8:10 am – NE 34th and Stanton
8:20 am – NE 45th and Brazee
8:30 am – NE 38th and Hancock
8:35 am – Beverly Cleary School
8:45 am – Bell rings
What does my student need to bring?
- Helmet
- Bike
- School bag
- Appropriate outerwear (including gloves, if it is cold)
- Front and rear lights recommended for gray days and low light (not required)
- Bike lock and key, if planning to lock up at the school bike racks (not required)
Where will bikes be parked?
Bikes can be parked at the bike racks in front of and behind the school (with a lock), or in the courtyard (no lock required). Bikes should be removed at the end of the day.
Are electric bikes (e-bikes) allowed?
Oregon law prohibits anyone under the age of 16 riding an electric bike, so they are only allowed for adults.
What if my student’s bike breaks during the ride?
Students should come with a well-maintained bike, but we’ll have basic bike maintenance tools on hand to address common issues. Students won’t be left behind.
My student doesn’t have a bike. How can we participate in the Bike Bus?
If you’re looking to buy a new bike or helmet: local bike shops, REI, online retailers and big box stores (Walmart, Costco) have options available.
If you’d like to look at used bikes: affordable options can be found secondhand on sites like Facebook Marketplace or Craigslist, or formally refurbished bikes can be found locally at the Community Cycling Center or Bikes for Humanity. Affordable helmets can be obtained at the Tom Sargent Safety Resource Center at OHSU, or occasionally for free at community events around town (for safety, used helmets are not recommended).
Is the Bike Bus safe?
As with any activity, participating in the Bike Bus entails some degree of risk. The Bike Bus will travel in the lane of traffic, not on sidewalks. However, the Bike Bus will use several approaches to help mitigate risk:
- Educating participants on how to ride safely as a group and obey traffic laws
- Riding primarily on established Neighborhood Greenways as identified by PBOT
- Using adult volunteers riding along to supervise
- Biking together, which makes us more noticeable to drivers
Please note that adult volunteers will be present, but participants ride at their own risk.
Our house isn’t along the Bike Bus route. How can my student participate?
The Bike Bus route is limited by the number of adult volunteers. If your student lives in an area that isn’t along the Bike Bus route, email Liz at BCSBikeBus@gmail.com so that we know there’s interest in your neighborhood (and, let us know if you can volunteer to help!). Over time, we hope to expand the Bike Bus with multiple routes that serve all neighborhoods where Beverly Cleary School students live.
