The third Bike Bus Summit was a smashing success thanks to the exceptional organization of Bike Worcester, the participation of bike bus children and the energy of everyone who attended.
The two day meeting April 10-11 2025 gave bike bus leaders the chance to connect with each other and share lessons and insights. It also gave us an opportunity to appreciate how far we have come since the first Bike Bus Summit two years ago in Barcelona, and the second Bike Bus Summit in Frankfurt last year.
In the last two years, the Bike Bus movement continues to grow and thrive:
*In the UK, Sustrans has created a Bike Bus support program that is helping 25+ bike buses leaders organize their community
*Sam Balto has founded Bike Bus World, brought Justin Timberlake to ride the Alameda Bike Bus and continues to be a visible figure for our movement.
*The Province of British Columbia has put over $1 million in active travel programs for kids to school, including the support of bike bus through HUB Cycling.
In addition to the growth of new bike bus initiatives, we are seeing that political leaders are turning to bike bus as a fun way to encourage active travel to school for children.
The most powerful moment of the event was hearing from the children themselves, describe what bike bus means to them. They created their own declaration on bike bus, which nicely follows the Barcelona Declaration from two years ago.
On bike bus I can see….
Nature everywhere
Lots of bikes
Bubbles
Swaying trees
Lots of stickers
The Park
A neon onesie
Butterflies
Smiles on people’s faces
On bike bus I feel…
Happy
Ready for school
Joyful
Excited
Safe
Free
Awake
Proud
Worry-free
Privileged
Bike Bus is a solution to…
Cycling safely on the road
Our physical health
Building our cycling skills
Tackling air pollution
Confidence
Getting to school faster
Surviving school
Climate change
The universe
Making the world better
Children Bike Bus Declaration, Worcester 2025
The Bike Bus Research Agenda
When I asked the keynote speakers about what questions they have about bike bus and data they are interested in obtaining, the questions largely revolve around impact. What is the long term impact of participation in bike bus for these children? Does it change their travel choices as adolescents or adults? Does it change their perceptions about mobility modes or urban planning? How does it contribute to a child’s autonomy, independence and confidence?
There is also interest in learning about the impact on volunteers, and the benefits for seniors and intergenerational exchange. Sarah Mitchell was interested in learning how the creation of a bike bus in a community might change the perceptions about cycling in a neighborhood and help generate public support.
I also learned that Sustrans and bike bus leaders in the UK are interested in collecting data on participation in bike buses across the country and BiciZen may be the platform that allows them to do this in an easy way.
It was a pleasure to connect with fellow researchers working on bike bus: Dee Harrington, Karen O’Hare, James Bonner from the University of Strathclyde, as well as Emma Street from Reading University.
The Global Bike Bus Movement
What can we do as a community to leverage our impact? How can we support each other? What collective strategies, actions or projects could be implemented together in order to raise the profile of bike bus, recruit new schools and braoden our impact?
There are various ideas about these bigger picture and strategic questions that still will need more thinking and conversation. Clearly there is interest in collaboration and support, but it is unclear what specific actions might be taken.
Bike Bus Summit, Lisbon 2026
Next year the Bike Bus Summit will be in Lisbon, probably in May. I would highly encouarge anyone who is part of bike bus to attend. This is an exceptional group of people and the event is unforgettable. I hope to see you there!
