Bike to School with Xtracycle

Ask any parent and they’d probably say, “Yes, I’d love to be more active in my day!”

It’s easy to default to the creature comforts of the car, but when you’re sitting in morning traffic catching every red light, or you’re idling in a long car line waiting to pick up your kids, you’re usually feeling pretty stuck.

You’re not just in traffic, you are traffic.

Instead, think about biking – there’s no congestion in the bike lane, there’s always a cool shortcut you can take, and parking is always right up front. You can walk your kids in, get one last hug, admire how they play, and chat with a teacher or make plans for a playdate.

A bike bus is a great way to get into biking during for your school commute.

A bike bus is an organized group ride to school in the morning, and just like a classic bus, it’s got a set route and timed stops where you know you can catch it.

It’s a super fun way to get to school, and gives your kids that group safety net. With an Xtracycle you can ride alongside your kids and carry their backpacks so they’re more free to focus on the road and developing those important skills. 

And when you get to school, if having their bike there at the end of the day doesn't fit with your afternoon plans, it’s easy to tow it back home or cart it with you on your way into the office. On an Xtracycle there’s always room to carry whatever you need.

Bike buses are typically organized by parents at the school level and run anywhere from monthly, weekly, or even daily.

Check with your PTA, local Safe Routes to Schools program, or ask other biking families you see at pick-up and drop-off if they’d like to ride. Start small and watch the bus grow!

Riding bikes is about making connections.

Biking connects you to your kids through a visceral, shared experience that a car can't deliver.

Riding connects you all to your community by being out in the open and seeing your neighbors, classmates and fellow cyclists.

Riding connects the locations you go to with more convenience and a greater ability to get stuff done, even with kids along for the ride.

And with that freedom and independence of biking comes a sharpening of the senses. The effect of teaching your kids to be more independent and engaged with their surroundings breaks them out of the box, connecting new pathways, and helping them grow.