Bike Bus Captain Training

Alexandria Bike Buses are recruiting parents who are interested in learning more about how to start up a bike bus in September at Alexandria public schools.

What is the training?

The bike bus training is a flexible, low-commitment, action-oriented 2-month program that is designed to help parents confidently and competently start bike buses, while working around their busy schedules.

The training is hybrid and includes five optional safety presentations, discussions, and hands-on demonstrations.

Topics covered in the training include: what constitutes a bike bus, how to map a route, how to communicate with riders and parents, how to manage traffic with large groups of cyclists, and more.

Who organizes the training?

Volunteer community members! This grassroots training was spearheaded by two city commissioners in their personal capacity, but the heart of the program is parents who lead with boots-on-the-ground as bike bus captains.

What is the purpose of the training?

To provide parents with the safety information, coordination, network, materials, and confidence to start up a bike bus in their community.

There are many social, physical, emotional, and environmental co-benefits associated with kids biking together to school.

Lessons learned?

It helps to have more than one bike marshal at each school to build momentum and allocate responsibilities accordingly.

The hardest part is getting started, but it’s okay to start small.

Safety in numbers.

What should parents do?

No need to do anything more than register your interest in the Google Form(https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSc8rR7c61Fxy4OGae_9n0LJT0tuihCrx8CS9KtzLE82ehkE7g/viewform?usp=sharing&ouid=106788970970051715398) by August 21, and

Find 1-2 likeminded parents at your school who are willing to commit 3-6 hours for 2 months to lead a bike bus.