By Tim Schaefer, Sunnyside Resident
The very first bike bus to Sunnyside School was held on June 7, 2023. What’s a bike bus? It’s a group ride of children, parents and community members where everyone travels together to school on bicycles. The idea behind a group ride is it encourages young riders to ride who may not otherwise be confident to ride to school on their own. It also allows busy parents to feel comfortable having their kids ride to school in the company of others.
The bike bus concept may be new to Sunnyside, but they have been happening all over North America with one of the more famous ones organized by Coach Balto in Portland, Oregon. In that bike bus they regularly have around 100 participants.
Back here in Calgary, the bike bus to Sunnyside School on June 7 also happened to be bike day at Sunnyside School, which was part of a weeklong engagement with Ever Active, an Alberta charity that promotes active mobility in youth. The result was a great turn out of about 30 riders on the bike bus. There were also many children who arrived on bicycle after the bus arrived, so the newly upgraded racks were filled beyond their 50 bike capacity!
Sunnyside’s first bike bus was more of a parade where everyone started and finished the ride together. Subsequent bike busses held in June 2023 were held more like a bus route where kids joined in from specific meeting places or wherever they liked.
The bike bus to Sunnyside School is an event organized by parents in the community. It is not organized by the school or the Calgary Board of Education. There are plans to hold regular bike buses next school year. To get involved or participate look for updates through the parent council communications.
Click the link below for a video of the first bike bus: