Join the BCS 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). Join our BCS Bike Bus WhatsApp group to get weekly reminders and updates!
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 adults to ride along and help supervise! Sign up to volunteer.
QUESTIONS? Check out our FAQs below or email BikeBus@beverlyclearyschool.org.
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?
Please accompany your K-1st grader. Older kids can participate in the Bike Bus on their own, but adults are welcome and always needed to make the Bike Bus run smoothly. If you do send your kid on their own, be advised that adult volunteers will be present, but participants ride at their own risk.
Does the Bike Bus return kids from school at the end of the day?
No, the Bike Bus only goes to school.
What does my student need to bring?
- Helmet
- Bike
- School bag
- Appropriate outerwear (including gloves, if it is cold)
- Front and rear lights (we have some to share, just ask!)
- Bike lock (we highly recommend a combination U-lock)
Where will bikes be parked?
Bikes should be parked and properly locked at the bike racks in front of and behind the school. Bikes should be removed at the end of the day.
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.
