Biking to school is an excellent way to incorporate physical activity into your daily routine, reduce your carbon footprint and enjoy the outdoors. There are many resources available to make biking safe and fun, and to help you find other people to ride with.
Whether you’re an adult biking with littles or a teen looking for freedom, here are our top tips for biking to school.
Tap Into The School Network: Biking to school made easy
- Join or Form a Bike Bus: Across the nation, bike busses are gaining in popularity. These group rides are not only a fun and eco-friendly way for kids to bike to school but also a safe option as kids get to ride in a large, visible group.
- Parental Support: For younger students, parental support is crucial. Parents can ride along to ensure safety and help navigate the route. Teaching children about traffic rules and safe biking practices can instill good habits early on. Depending on how safe of a route you have and the riding skills of your child, it may be possible for your kiddo to pedal to school on their own.
- School Initiatives: Some schools, even colleges, have programs to encourage biking, such Safe Routes to Schools programs, bike-to-school days, bike racks, or safety workshops. Participating in these initiatives fosters a supportive biking community and supports sustainable transportation.
Plan And Prepare For The Ride
- Choose the Right Bike: Ensure the bike is the appropriate size for the rider. A bike that is too large or too small can be challenging to control and uncomfortable to ride. For students, a well maintained, lightweight bike with a sturdy bike frame and reliable brakes is ideal.
- Carry your gear with confidence: Whatever you’re bringing with you for the day should fit comfortably on your bike. Backpacks can be heavy and shift around, so select panniers and trunk racks so you can carry everything on your rack, not your back. And if you don’t already have a rack, don’t worry! They’re low cost, easy to install and if you buy a good quality rack it will last for many years to come. The Po Campo Bedford is a perfect choice for teens, adults and college bound students who want to carry their day by bike, with style and ease.
For little ones heading to school that need a little extra room, our Whoosh Bike Basket is the perfect handlebar bag. The open container makes it easy to grab gloves, snacks and water bottles as you ride. Explore all of our bags to find the perfect option for your ride to school.
- Research Local Options: You aren’t the only one wanting to bike to school, so check out your regional options. Does your school have resources? What about other parents or students? Are there bike racks out front? Are there groups who ride together?
- Bike Maintenance: Get to know the ABCs of a quick bike check (air in the tires, check your brakes and c is for the crank, chain and cogs). Ensure the tires are properly inflated, the brakes are functioning correctly, and the chain is well-lubricated. A well-maintained bike reduces the risk of breakdowns and accidents. And don’t worry! You don’t have to fix any of these issues yourself; your friendly local bike shop will be happy to help, and provide a piece of mind knowing your bike is in tip-top shape for a safe ride.
- Route Planning: Plan your route in advance. Choose paths with low traffic, dedicated bike lanes or off-road paved trails that offer a safer and more pleasant ride. Use mapping tools or apps to find the best route. Even better, ask around to discover the routes used by other bike riders in your area.
- Give Yourself Time: Familiarize yourself with the route by doing a trial run, ideally during the same time you’ll be commuting. Not only will this help you hone your planned route and know where you’re going, it will help you determine how long it will take you to arrive by bike. One your first day biking to school, give yourself extra time so you’re not rushed. Enjoy the ride and arrive with plenty of time to lock up your bike and walk through the school doors.
- Biking with Kids: If you’re a parent taking kids to school, choose the most low traffic routes you can find, even if that means going a little out of your way (or a lot!). Ideally, kids should ride on the road. When riding on the sidewalk, every driveway or intersection is a danger zone with cars not expecting a fast moving bike; when you ride in the street, your movements are much more visible and predictable. Have your child ride slight in front of you and as close to the sidewalk as is practical and safe, and not too close to near parked cars (stay out of the zone of opening doors). The adult can ride just further into the street - this makes the riders more visible and creates a buffer between the traffic and the young rider. Ride smoothly and forward, without any squirreling around, hopping curbs or other tricks.
- Ride Defensively: Assume that drivers don’t see you. Make eye contact with drivers at intersections, and be prepared for sudden stops or turns. Maintain a safe distance from cars and other obstacles.
- Ride Predictably: Avoid sudden stops, swerving around parked cars, turns or lane changes. Signal your turns by putting your arm out in the direction you’re turning. If you’re trying to cross the street, move as far into the intersection as is safe. Put your body in a position that indicates you're trying to cross the street: lean forward, look left and right, make eye contact with drivers.
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Ride with Confidence: If at any point you need to stop for a break, to take a call or look at a map, slow down, move to the side of the road and get out of the way of traffic before you pull out your phone or catch your breath.
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Helmet and Safety Gear: Don’t forget your properly fitted helmet! Lights are a good idea in daytime and at night. And if you’re riding in a busy area or in low light, wearing brightly colored clothing will make you more visible.
BONUS TIP!
Set all your gear out the night before, even load those Po Campo panniers on your bike. Everything will go more smoothly in the morning so you can enjoy the ride!
We hope we inspired you and helped you feel ready to bike to school!
By following these tips, biking to school can become a safe, invigorating and beneficial part of your daily routine. Whether you’re looking to improve your physical and mental health, save money on transportation, get your kids active or contribute to a greener environment, biking is the way to go.
Po Campo is with you for the ride!
