Bike to School Day Breaks a Record With 900 Riders

More than 900 students rode to school on Wednesday, a record for the city’s annual Bike to School Day. They came in helmets decorated with stickers and streamers, on bikes with training wheels and hand-me-down mountain bikes, some pedaling hard up the hills and others walking their bikes beside a parent. By 8 a.m., the bike racks at several elementary schools were so full that volunteers had to set up temporary parking on the playgrounds.

The morning was cool and clear, with temperatures in the low 50s and a bright sun just clearing the rooftops. Organizers say the weather certainly helped, but the record turnout was the result of months of planning, dozens of volunteers and a simple idea: kids feel safer, and parents worry less, when nobody rides alone.

A record morning

This year’s total of 912 riders beat last year’s record of 640 by a wide margin. All 11 public elementary and middle schools in the city took part, and three schools reported more than 100 riders each. At one elementary school in the New North End, about a third of all students arrived by bike.

The event is organized by Safe Streets for Kids, a volunteer group of parents, teachers and neighbors, with support from the school district, the city’s public works department and the police department. The group began the event in 2016 with just over 100 riders.

“We used to count every bike ourselves,” said organizer Lucy Fernandez. “This year we needed a spreadsheet and three people with clipboards at every school.”

Bike trains

Parent volunteers led groups from each neighborhood along planned routes. The idea, known as a bike train, works much like a school bus: a group of riders starts at a set point and picks up more kids at “stops” along the way. Adults ride at the front and back, and a few more ride alongside the group to keep everyone together at crossings.

This year, volunteers ran 24 bike trains across the city. Some had as few as eight riders. The largest, which started at a park in the Old North End, grew to more than 70 kids and 20 adults by the time it reached the school.

You can’t teach confidence on a bike in a classroom. You have to ride.

Owen Marsh, parent volunteer

Marsh, who led a bike train of about 40 riders from his neighborhood, said many of the children in his group had never ridden to school before. “At the first stop, some of them were nervous,” he said. “By the time we got to school, they were ringing their bells and racing to park. That’s the whole point.”

How a bike train works

1. Organizers map a safe route, using side streets, bike lanes and crossings with crossing guards or signals.
2. Parents sign up their kids and choose a “stop” near their home.
3. Adult leaders ride at the front and back, with extra adults in the middle for larger groups.
4. The group moves at the speed of the slowest rider and stops together at every intersection.
5. At school, volunteers help with parking and lock-up before the bell.

Safety on the streets

Police officers and crossing guards were stationed at busy intersections along the most popular routes. The city’s public works department placed temporary signs on several streets alerting drivers to expect large groups of young cyclists, and some schools closed their drop-off lanes to cars for the first 30 minutes of the morning.

Before the event, volunteers held free bike safety checks at six schools, where they pumped tires, adjusted seats, tightened brakes and handed out more than 150 donated helmets. A local bike shop, Spoke and Gear, sent two mechanics to help.

Organizers shared a short checklist with families ahead of the event:

• Wear a helmet that fits snugly and sits level on the head.
• Check that tires are full and brakes work before leaving home.
• Wear bright clothing so drivers can see you.
• Ride on the right side of the road, in single file when needed.
• Stop at every stop sign and look both ways before crossing.

There were no injuries reported, according to the school district.

Why it matters

Organizers and school officials say biking to school offers benefits beyond the morning ride. Teachers often report that students who walk or bike to school arrive more alert and ready to learn. It also cuts down on car traffic around school buildings, which can be crowded and stressful during morning drop-off.

Principal Angela Brooks, whose elementary school had 128 riders, said the energy in the building was different on Wednesday. “The kids came in with pink cheeks and big smiles,” she said. “They were proud of themselves. We should have more mornings like this.”

For many parents, the biggest benefit is confidence — their kids’ and their own. Maya Sullivan, who rode with her 7-year-old son, said she had been nervous about letting him ride on city streets. “Seeing how the bike train works, with adults all around and everyone stopping together, I feel a lot better,” she said. “I think we’ll keep doing it.”

What’s next

Organizers want monthly bike trains through the fall. The plan is to run bike trains on the first Wednesday of every month through November, weather permitting, then pick up again in April. Several neighborhoods have already said they want to run weekly trains on their own.

The group is also working with the city on longer-term improvements. Requests include more bike racks at schools, better crosswalk markings on a few busy streets, and a protected bike lane on a stretch of road near two schools that many parents say feels unsafe. City officials said those requests will be considered as part of next year’s street improvement plan.

Safe Streets for Kids is looking for more volunteers to lead and ride with bike trains. Volunteers should be comfortable riding in city traffic and must complete a short training session. Organizers also welcome donations of helmets, bike locks and lights.

Teaching kids to ride

Not every child in the city knows how to ride a bike, and organizers want to change that too. This spring, Safe Streets for Kids plans to offer free Saturday “learn to ride” sessions in school parking lots, where volunteers will help young children practice balancing, braking and steering in a safe, closed space. The group also hopes to start a bike library, lending donated bikes to families who can’t afford one.

“A kid who doesn’t have a bike can’t join a bike train,” Fernandez said. “So we’re starting at the beginning. Every kid who wants to ride should get the chance.”

A morning to remember

By the time the first bell rang on Wednesday, the bike racks were full, the volunteers were tired, and hundreds of kids were telling their classmates about the ride. At one middle school, students cheered for a group of sixth graders who arrived last after a long climb up a hill.

Key takeaway: A record 900-plus students biked to school, proving that when parents ride together and plan safe routes, kids are ready to roll.

Fernandez said she’s already thinking about next year’s goal. “A thousand riders,” she said. “We’re close. I think we can do it.”