blog: Bike Buses – A Symptom of Broken School Commutes?
Wednesday 21st May 2025
Few things make me happier than seeing children riding bikes to school. Since 2020, I’ve volunteered, when possible, with the Warwick Bike Bus, an initiative set up by local resident Simon Storey.
What began as a small group of parents cycling to three nearby schools on an ad hoc basis has since grown into a weekly event. Today, the Warwick Bike Bus runs two regular routes, giving families the chance to ride together in a safe, social convoy. We’re hard to miss – Simon leads the way with music playing from a speaker and a bubble machine trailing behind, much to the delight of other children we pass on our journey.
Thanks to his tireless efforts to get Warwick pedaling, Simon now also serves as the town’s Bike Mayor and over the past few years has helped set up a further 10 buses in the wider area. It’s great to see someone so passionate about getting more people onto cycles. The momentum isn’t just limited to Warwickshire either- bike buses are gaining traction across the UK, as well as in the US, Canada and many parts of Europe.
When safe streets are missing, parents step in
The concept of a bike bus is straightforward: a planned route with designated stops where children and parents can join the group and cycle to school together. But behind this simplicity lies a significant reliance on parent volunteers. These initiatives are entirely community-led, powered by individuals who give their time to organise routes, lead rides, and ensure everyone arrives safely. Without their dedication, many bike buses simply wouldn’t exist.
In the case of the Warwick Bike Bus, the local council have been extremely supportive of the initiatives and has helped with small pots of funding to assist the purchase of equipment to help the bus run safely and smoothly. However, whether councils could or should formally take over, or provide long-term support for these initiatives, remains uncertain. The sustainability of bike buses still largely depends on the goodwill and availability of parent volunteers. And there’s an inherent fragility to this model, for instance, when children move on to secondary school, the parents who once led the charge often step away, leaving a gap that’s not always easy to fill. Similarly, as we all know, life can get hectic, working and family commitments can change, which can also see volunteers unable to commit regularly, or at all.
Because the journey to school shouldn’t be a risk
Across the UK, more and more of these bike buses are popping up. They’re a heartwarming display of community spirit and parental commitment, but behind the cheerful bells and high vis vests, perhaps lies a more troubling truth. These bike buses exist not because they are the best option, but often because they are the only safe option left.
In a world where school runs are dominated by dangerous driving, careless parking and rising air pollution, cycling should be a straightforward and healthy alternative. However, the lack of safe cycling infrastructure has made independent cycling to school a risky proposition for many. Bike buses offer a protective convoy to shield their children from harm on the school run.
Bike buses are undeniably inspiring. I love seeing more of them springing up across the UK—cue the heartwarming images of smiling children riding together in cheerful, high-vis packs. But beneath the joy lies a frustrating truth: our continued failure to build infrastructure that prioritises children’s safety and independence on a journey they must make twice a day, five days a week, is deeply troubling.
Parents shouldn’t have to weigh the risks of harm just because they choose to cycle their children to school. Yet for many, that’s the reality. As someone who cycled my own child to primary school most days, I often felt a wave of relief just arriving safely. Some days we’d experience close passes or impatient drivers speeding by—and I couldn’t help but wonder: do parents who walk or drive their children feel this same level of vigilance? Do they worry about being judged for choosing a mode of transport that, while healthy and sustainable, feels inherently unsafe?
Long live the Bike Bus…
The Warwick Bike Bus is a brilliant initiative that I’ll continue to champion for as long as it runs. It’s a shining example of what communities can achieve when they come together. But we mustn’t lose sight of the bigger picture: getting to school should never be a risk; it should be a right. A right that’s safe, straightforward, and joyful.
In an ideal world, bike buses would still exist—not because they’re the only safe option for families, but because they’re fun, social, and a fantastic way for children to travel with their friends. So, here’s to the continued success of the bike bus—and to a future where safe routes to school are the norm, not the exception.
If you would like to find out more, or learn how ITP can support your organisation's transport projects with our expertise in inclusive design, please get in touch or contact Dawn Rahman.