The Edinburgh Bike Bus Project
In recent years Edinburgh city has seen several schools set up bike buses to facilitate the safe and healthy transport of children to their schools. These ground-breaking schools have proved that the bike bus concept works, and Edinburgh Council now wants other schools to experience the benefits which come with a school bike bus.
Following the success of the bike buses already running in the city, Edinburgh Council passed a motion whereby Edinburgh Council’s Road Safety team would encourage all schools to consider setting up a bike bus.
If you’re a parent or a Head Teacher, there’s a group of experienced volunteers from Edinburgh’s cycling community who’ll help you set up a bike bus.
Click here to contact a Bike Bus organiser to discuss setting up a bike bus:
Sustrans provide a Quick guide on how to set up a bike bus in Edinburgh or read the summary below
Get Support
Gather support from the school and parents committee for a bike bus. Also, let senior staff at the school know you are planning a bike bus and have a meeting to ensure support from the school.
Choose an appropriate route
Consider north, south, east and west routes for your bike bus and ride the route in advance to risk assess it. (No route is perfect so don’t be put off by perceived obstacles).
Connect with a bike bus organiser who can help choose an appropriate start point and route.
Run a pilot
Agree a date to run a pilot bike bus. Invite local volunteer marshals (x2) who can show parents how to marshal a bike bus and also local community police who can ride alongside the bike bus.
Communication and promotion
Set up a WhatsApp or other communication tool for parents who are interested in using the bike bus. Also, consider setting up a web site to promote the bike bus with all the necessary details and email parents (sample template here). Harness the power of social media and take photos, especially if the police are in attendance. Having promo photos of police will give confidence to parents that the bike bus is a safe way to get to school.
| George Watson’s College Bike Bus Click on the Sign up button below and tell us what route you would like to sign up to. Please provide your mobile number and what year group your child is in.We need your mobile number as we use Wh… cyclejarjar.wordpress.com |
Seek Feedback
Seek feedback from the police after the bike bus as they can offer suggestions about the route and suggest alternatives. Also, run a debrief and seek a sign off from the volunteer marshals.
Insurance
Although it is not necessary to take out liability insurance for your bike bus, some groups that run bike buses have taken out insurance.
Cycling UK offer insurance with their group affiliated membership. The cost is typically under £100.
More information is available via the links below: