FRideDays Bike Bus

Download your free guide today and get your FRideDays Bike Bus on a roll.

Download the toolkit

Thinking about setting up a bike bus for your school?

Here's your one-stop shop with everything you need to know about the FRideDays Bike Bus.

What is a FRideDays Bike Bus?

Fresh air, friends, and that Friday feeling. That's what the FRideDays Bike Bus is all about.

A bike bus is a group of people who ride to school together.

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.

Why set up a bike bus for your school?

It’s a fun and rewarding experience for everyone who joins in.

And there are heaps of benefits for children, parents and your community.

1. Helps children enjoy exercise

Cycling to school boosts their physical and mental health.

2. Starts the day right

Teachers find children arrive more relaxed and ready to learn.

3. Brings the community together

A bike bus is a great way to get to know people in your neighbourhood. And for your children to make friends.

4. Reduces traffic congestion

One in four cars in the morning rush hour are on the school run. With fewer cars on the road, less traffic will be outside the school gates.

5. Protects the environment

Cycling just one day a week helps cut your carbon footprint.

Hear from pupils, parents and bike bus leaders at Treganna Primary School.

How to set up your FRideDays Bike Bus

Here's how to get started in five simple steps.

Step 1: Find five for FRideDays

Start small. We recommend finding five people to join your FRideDays Bike Bus at first.

As long as there are two or more families, you have a bike bus.

Step 2: Plan your bike bus stops

Find a practical route to school, ideally between 10-30 minutes.

Make sure there's a safe space to start from and keep it as simple as possible.

Are there straight roads you can use? Can you minimise the number of turns needed?

Step 3: Hold a FRideDays Bike Bus

Download the toolkit and make sure you're ready.

Be consistent with your bike bus schedule.

We recommend holding it every Friday. Or start with one Friday a month and build up to every week.

Make your Fridays FRideDays!

Step 4: Spread the word about your FRideDays Bike Bus

Let people know about FRideDays, how to join in, or volunteer on a ride.

Ask the school to include it in their newsletter. Make flyers. Use local and social media. Or why not hold a coffee morning?

And don't forget to use the hashtag #FridayWeCycle and tag @sustrans on social media.

Step 5: Keep everyone involved

Set up a FRideDays online group to keep your bike bus up to date with any changes to schedule, weather reports, extra events or share photos from the ride.

We have a guide to using WhatsApp in our toolkit.

Hamish Belding, FRideDays Bike Bus Project Coordinator

The FRideDays Bike Bus project is helping more children and their families cycle to school by providing free resources, training and ongoing support for school communities all over the UK.

If you want to get a bike bus rolling to your school but you're not sure where to start, get in touch with our friendly team!

Download the free FRideDays Bike Bus Toolkit to get started.