Cardiff hosted the biggest ever FRideDays Bike Bus recently, with over 300 pupils, parents and teachers from Radnor Primary School, Ysgol Treganna and Ysgol Pwll Coch joining together for the journey to school. They were also joined by a special guest, ‘Coach’ Sam Balto, founder of Bike Bus World in the United States.
Sustrans' Hamish Belding joined forces with Coach Balto to lead the biggest ever FRideDays Bike Bus. Credit: Tom Hughes\Sustrans.
Over 300 children, parents and teachers took to the streets of Cardiff for a school run with a difference recently.
Organised by Sustrans, children from Radnor Primary School, Ysgol Treganna and Ysgol Pwll Coch joined forces to create the biggest ever FRideDays Bike Bus.
They were joined by ‘Coach’ Sam Balto, the American PE teacher who became a viral sensation after he was joined on his bike bus in Portland by superstar Justin Timberlake.
“It was exhilarating to be part of this huge bike bus and see first-hand the growing movement of Bike Buses around the globe,” said Coach Balto.
“The children felt joy and freedom by cycling together en masse – getting to school becomes a delight rather than a chore as part of a bike bus.”
Bike buses transform the journey to school
Bike buses are group rides where children, families and friends cycle together along a set route, making the journey to school more active, fun and sustainable.
The FRideDays Bike Bus project empowers more families to embrace cycling by providing free resources, training and on-going support for school communities across the UK.
Bike buses give children an opportunity to ride alongside their friends, decorate their bikes and ride along to music, arriving at school both energised and happy.
“Projects like the FRideDays Bike Bus are pivotal,” explained Hamish Belding, FRideDays Bike Bus Co-ordinator at Sustrans.
“Together, we can pave the way for healthier, happier neighbourhoods that prioritise both the environment and community well-being.”
“Joyous events like the Bike Bus with Coach Balto aim to highlight how riding together can encourage kids on their bikes for the school run.”
“Fresh air, friends, and the feelings of freedom – that’s what the FRideDays Bike Bus is all about.”
Empowering the voices of future generations through active travel
Bike buses are also an effective way to highlight key issues around the importance and ability to travel actively from a young age, as well as overcoming some of the barriers to cycling.
Sustrans’ recent Children’s Walking and Cycling Index revealed that of the 1.36 billion trips that are walked, wheeled or scooted by children each year in the UK, most are made to and from school (38%).
Bike buses can lead to fundamentally positive changes that benefit communities during what can otherwise be a stressful time.
They can help children to get some exercise at the start of the day, boosting their physical and mental health, leading them to be more focused when in class.
They’re also a great way of reducing traffic congestion – with less cars on the road as a result of people taking part in a bike bus – and bringing the community together.
