American bike bus guru Sam Balto was in Cardiff this week to lend his support to the biggest ever FRideDays Bike Bus, in which over 300 children, parents and teachers took part.
‘Coach’ Balto made the headlines three years ago when, having heard about a similar scheme in Spain, he organised a ‘Bike Bus for Earth Day’ at a school in Portland where he taught PE.
A video of the event went viral and the bike bus concept swept America. Balto was invited to the White House by President Biden and earlier this year Justin Timberlake turned up to join one of his bike busses.
The event in Cardiff was organised by Sustrans and included children from Cardiff’s Radnor Primary School, Ysgol Treganna and Ysgol Pwll Coch.
Sustrans’ FRideDays initiative is sponsored by Schwalbe Tyres UK and helps communities to organise their own bike busses, in which children, families and friends cycle to school together along a set route
Speaking at the event Coach Balto said: ‘It was exhilarating to be part of this huge bike bus and see first-hand the growing movement of Bike Buses around the globe. The children felt joy and freedom by cycling together en masse. Getting to school becomes a delight rather than a chore as part of a bike bus.
‘Projects like FRideDays Bike Bus are pivotal. Together, we can pave the way for healthier, happier neighbourhoods that prioritise both the environment and community well-being.’
Hamish Belding, FRideDays Bike Bus coordinator at Sustrans, said: ‘Today’s joyous event aimed to highlight how riding together can encourage children on to their bikes for the school run. Fresh air, friends, and that feeling of freedom. That’s what the FRideDays Bike Bus is all about. It’s a fun way to make the benefits of cycling a regular part of the week.
‘For children, there’s nothing like cycling with friends by their side to get the day off to the best start.’
In March Sustrans published their first Children’s Walking and Cycling Index, in which more than half (51%) of the children surveyed said they wanted to cycle more but currently only 48% get on a bike at least once a week.
The study also showed that 66% of children support closing streets outside schools to cars during school drop-off and pick-up.
Photo: Tom Highes / Sustrans