Bike Trains enable students to get to school while enjoying the outdoors and the company of other bicyclists. Bike Trains are led by adults - one at the front and one at the rear of the train - that accompany students as they bike to and from school. Bike Trains can be a great way to instill a love of bicycling while developing life-long safety skills. 

Bike Train Planning and Training 

Celebrate "We love the bus" to encourage children to ride the bus! Create a one time event, or monthly encouragement to ride the bus to school!  Riding the bus decreases traffic congestion and emissions at the school, creating a safer environment. Bus stops let your children meet others in the neighborhood and builds community. Plan with your school to encourage students to ride the bus on the advertised day and give rewards as simple as a sticker or a high five!  

Steps to Organizing a Successful Bus Event

1.  Get Organized. Form a "We love the bus" School team that includes students, parents, teachers. Make sure the Principal is on board.

Start planning your event.  You can add many things to a bus event to increase children's ability to participate!  

• Will it be a one time event or a regular occurrence?

• Decide rewards such as a sticker for riding the bus.

• Set a goal and let the students in on it!  Create a poster or tracking sheet to publish results.  

• Create a simple sign-in and draw for prizes.

• Post dates in school newsletter and throughout school.

2.  Recruit Volunteers. Check with your PTO, Neighborhood Association and school staff to help with greeting students and the school’s celebration.

3.  Promote. Post in school’s newsletter and put posters up throughout school and neighborhood.

4.  Plan for Safety. Promote safe riding with this video! 

• Stay in touch with Beaverton’s SRTS program through the website and Facebook page: learn about other opportunities and resources.

May is Walk + Roll Challenge month. Our Beaverton schools celebrate this event in a variety of ways, however, the goal is the same: to encourage and promote active transportation (walking, biking, scooting, skateboarding and riding the school bus). It’s great for us, our kids and it’s great for the community. Schools around the nation celebrate biking to school in May on National Bike to School Day. Many district schools choose this day to celebrate their May Walk + Roll challenge. Whether you and your school celebrate on one day, multiple days or all month long, the following benefits are important for the health and well-being of our communities:

• Fewer vehicles reduces traffic congestion and carbon emissions near schools and in school parking lots.
• More people on foot and bike builds school community and boosts awareness of all road users around schools.
• Physical activity boosts kids’ readiness to learn and brings long-lasting health benefits.
• Kids have fun with their friends and bond with their families while walking or rolling together.
• Being outside builds independence, resilience and lifelong transportation skills. If your child would like to walk to school with a volunteer-led group, join a Walking School Bus or ask your administrator or Green Team to start one.

May Challenge Ideas

• May Walk + Roll Day on National Bike to School Day (similar to Fall Walk + Roll Day)
• Car Free Fridays every Friday in May
• Ride the Bus Challenge for the month of May
• Walk + Roll Wednesdays each week during the month of May
• Class competitions to see which class can log the most walk or roll trips during the month of May
• Individual or class tracking sheets to log how many walk or roll trips made during the month of May

The possibilities are endless, use your creativity to create a unique challenge that your community can enjoy.