Catching the bike bus!
When kids ask their friends to if they’re joining the party bus and they really mean are you coming for fresh air and a bike ride, you know something’s going right.
That’s the sort of reaction École Provencher teacher-librarian Suzanne Simpson has gotten from kids eager to get pedaling each Friday as part of her Bike Bus (Vélobus) initiative.
“Bike buses are happening all over the world and a parent, Ian Walker, who is now an LRSD trustee, and I got to talking and we said ‘Why not here? Let’s try to start one at our school,’” Suzanne said.
In essence, a bike bus is a group of cyclists moving together as one. Suzanne said the group assumes the role of a single vehicle, moving through lights and stop signs as one, so no one is separated from the group. All students must be accompanied by a parent or guardian or otherwise an adult with permission to act as chaperone from their parent or guardian.
Kids stay nearer the curb and are protected at all sides by adult riders wearing reflective safety vests, and everyone follows safety practices for group rides as outlined by Bike Winnipeg.
The ride began at Nordale School and eventually went to École Provencher and École Henri-Bergeron.
Suzanne said the atmosphere is wonderful.
“Everyone arrives at school energized. The students get out some excess energy, and they’re ready to learn. It’s a lovely way to start the day — with some physical activity and some community, as well,” the cycling enthusiast said.
The demand for a program like this has been apparent, Suzanne said.
“There’s a real big want to incorporate active transportation in the lives of their children and also as a person practice, and sadly our infrastructure isn’t quite there in all areas of the city,” she said. “So, what the bike bus does is allows kids to still enjoy that option, but in the safest way possible.”
But this initiative has another purpose, too.
“As schools, we have a responsibility to take the climate emergency seriously and that means in all areas. In my sphere of influence, I don’t get ot make a lot of the big decisions, but I can encourage people in my own small ways, and this is one of them,” Suzanne said.
École Provencher Principal David Charney said the idea has turned out great.
“Being in a Kindergarten to Grade 4 school, we were initially quite hesitant — terrified might be a better word — last year when Ian and Suzanne came to us with this proposal…
Ian and Suzanne were persistent with the idea and are we ever glad they were. This has been an incredibly positive experience for our school and our community,” he said.
He added that the support from parents joining in is what allows them to operate in as safe a way as possible.
And there’s even a loudspeaker to soak in some tunes along the way. What a way to start the day!
