Malcolm X Bike Bus
Bike Bus rolls every Friday morning this year!
What is a Bike Bus?
A Bike Bus is a group of people riding bikes together in a big group. It is an easy way to get some exercise, meet other families, and see how biking to school might work for your family! Most of the group will be on bikes (kids on cargo bikes ridden by adults, kids and adults on their own bikes, etc) though anyone on wheels (scooters, roller skates/blades, motorized mobility devices, etc.) is welcome to join! Parents, school staff, students, and community bikers/rollers are invited. It’s a fun and safe way to ride to school.
At Malcolm X, our Bike Bus rolls every Friday. We have three routes with several so you can join at the stop that is best for you! Look for the leaders wearing Safe Routes to School vests. Kidical Mass adult volunteers also provide support to our Bike Bus by stopping traffic at major intersections to ensure that kids can roll quickly and safely through.
Email julia.moss@mxpta.org for more information or if you want to help with the Bike Bus.
There are 3 great buses — join the one most convenient for you!
Questions?
Contact Julia Moss, our Safe Routes to School Coordinator, at julia.moss@mxpta.org
MX BIKE BUS FAQ
WHAT IF MY CHILD OR I DO NOT KNOW HOW TO RIDE A BIKE OR DO NOT HAVE A BIKE?
There are a lot of great local, free resources for learning how to ride a bike safely on the street or for getting an affordable bike:
- Learning at Home Resources from Safe Routes to School
- Tips for New Riders from Bike East Bay
- Free Learn to Ride Classes from Bike East Bay
- Refurbished used bikes can be bought from Street Level Cycles, part of Waterside Workshops
- Get $400-$1500 off a new e-bike through the Ava Bike Electric rebate raffle
- East Bay Kidical Mass organizes large kid-friendly rides which are a great place for kids to practice riding safely
DO I NEED TO SIGN UP TO PARTICIPATE IN THE BIKE BUS?
No! We’ve provided emails for the leaders, and they may appreciate an email that you are coming, but you can also just show up!
DO I NEED TO MEET THE BIKE BUS AT THE BEGINNING OF THE ROUTE?
No! You can wait for us anywhere on the route and join us from there.
CAN MY CHILD RIDE IN THE BIKE BUS WITHOUT ME?
We prefer parent participation, but students in 3rd Grade and above may ride without a parent or guardian if they can:
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Start & stop their bike smoothly
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Ride in a straight line without weaving
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Listen to & obey directions
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Communicate needs
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Lock their own bike at school
If you're not sure, contact the ride leader to discuss your specific situation.
CAN I START A BIKE BUS IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD?
Yes! Starting a bike bus from your neighborhood is a great way to make riding to school more fun for your family AND a great way to help other families that might be thinking about biking, but need a little extra support to get started. If you are interested in starting a Bike Bus, contact our Safe Routes to School Coordinator, Julia Moss, at julia.moss@mxpta.org.
WILL THERE BE A BIKE BUS HOME AFTER SCHOOL?
We don't have any organized after-school bike trains, but why not start the first one?
WHAT IF MY CHILD RIDES THE “REGULAR” BUS HOME OR TO AN AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAM?
We've all got complicated schedules - and sometimes it just won't work to bike home after school, which means there's a bike that needs to be transported as well. Some folks have found they can tow their child's bike from their Xtracycle-style cargo bike (by strapping the front wheel of the kid bike into the cargo bags). Others can fit their child's bikes into their Burley-style trailers. As a last resort, some folks have simply put the child's bike in their car at the end of the day.
