Ride Guide
Everything you need to know about how to ride with Bike Bus
Ride Logistics and Operations
Bike Bus Culture
Safety and Risk Management
School Relationships and Family Responsibility
What is a Bike Bus
A bike bus is a fun, safe, and social way for kids and adults to ride to school together—just like a school bus, but on bikes!
Scheduled Rides: Bike buses follow a planned route with scheduled stops, usually once or twice a week.
Join Along the Way: Kids join the ride at designated stops, just like a bus.
Ride Together or Send Your Child: Parents can join the ride or send their kids to ride with trusted volunteers.
Adult Volunteers: Parents and community members ride with the group to keep things safe and fun.
Celebrate Every Ride: We make each ride special with high-fives, music, small awards, and snacks.
Ride Home Too: After school, we ride back along the same route.
Routes and Schedules
Bike Bus Edmonton offers multiple routes serving different schools across the city. Select your school in the dropdown to see its route.
Meeting Zones: Designated meeting zones along the route are like bus stops on a bus.
Consistent: Routes and schedules are the same for every ride, but small changes may occur due to things like construction. Leaders will communicate changes.
Prioritized: Routes are carefully developed by Bike Bus Edmonton to prioritize:
Total travel time of less than 1 hour
Maximum coverage to the school’s Bus Service Area
Manageable duration: For most riders the ride is 30 - 40 min, including all of the breaks at meeting zones.
Live Location: Ride leaders publish live bike bus location in a private app available only to parents and guardians of registered riders. See Communication.
Find Your
Route and Schedule
Who Can Ride
The bike bus is designed to serve students from the school on its route—but it’s open to more than just students!
Student Riders: Must be registered students at the school served by the route, or accompanied by someone who is.
Family & Community: Parents, siblings, and those close to you are welcome to ride too.
Passengers: Bring along those not quite ready to ride yet, as passengers on your bike.
Registration Required: Everybody joining the ride must be registered for the ride season with Bike Bus Edmonton (including family and community). It’s free! Ride leaders will confirm registration at each ride.
Inclusive: All rides are inclusive to all, and we do our best to accommodate the needs of riders. Check out our Bike Access Program for details on loaner bikes and cargo bikes.
Required Skills
To ride independently in the bike bus, children should be able to:
Start, Stop & Steer confidently without assistance
Maintain Balance, especially at slower speeds
Ride Continuously for at least 300 meters at 6 – 10 km/h
Stay Aware of surroundings, other riders, and obstacles
Follow Instructions from ride leaders without needing frequent correction
Control Speed, especially on downhills
Make Safety Decisions with guidance from leaders
If you’re unsure of your child’s skills, consider joining the ride with them or bringing them as a passenger. We will soon offer skills programs to help all riders work towards riding independently.
Passengers
If your child isn’t quite ready to ride independently, they can join the rides as a passenger on an adult’s bike.
Who It’s For: Children who don’t yet meet the skills for independent riding.
Ride With a Registered Adult: Passengers must be registered, and also must ride with a registered adult participant.
Consider these options: If you don’t have a way to carry a passenger, here are a few popular options:
Bicycle trailer (like the Burley Bee)
Cargo bicycle (like the Rad Wagon or Bunch Bike)
Children’s bicycle seat (like the Mac-Ride or the Kid’s Ride Shot Gun or the Thule Yepp)
Pedaling Trailer (like the Trail-a-bike)
Borrow Our Bike: Bike Bus Edmonton has loaner cargo bikes as a part of our Bike Access Program, reach out if you’re interested.
Meeting Zones
Bike Bus Edmonton uses designated meeting zones—safe locations where riders gather to join the bike bus. These zones are carefully selected to support safety, accessibility, and rider convenience.
Safe & Spacious: Meeting zones are located in off-street areas with safe entry and exit, and plenty of room to gather and wait safely.
Mapped & Timed: Each meeting zone is shown on the route map and includes scheduled departure times to help with parent drop-off and pick-up.
We Don’t Leave Early: If you arrive at your meeting zone on time, you’re set! Occasional delays may mean a short wait, but the bike bus often arrives early and takes a short break.
Live Location: Ride leaders publish live bike bus location in a private app available only to parents and guardians of registered riders. See Communication.
Safety Briefings: On morning rides, leaders repeat safety instructions at each meeting zone as new riders join.
Reliable Arrival: Ride leaders will make best efforts to reach all meeting zones, even if the route needs to be adjusted due to unexpected issues like construction.
Example Meeting Zone
Joining and Leaving the Ride
Bike Bus Edmonton rides are designed to be safe, flexible, and family-friendly.
Independent Joining: Bike Bus rides are flexible and open—there’s no requirement to RSVP for individual rides. While we do track attendance and registration, ride leaders don’t have a list of expected participants. This means they may not notice if someone misses a ride. Families are responsible for ensuring their child is prepared and able to join independently, both in the morning and afternoon.
Live Location: Ride leaders publish live bike bus location in a private app available only to parents and guardians of registered riders. See Communication.
Morning and afternoon rides are a little different, here’s how they work:
Morning Rides
Join the Ride:
At a meeting zone: We encourage families to use designated meeting zones. These are safe, off-street locations with scheduled times where riders can gather, get a safety briefing, and start the ride together.
Along the route: Or you’re welcome to join the bike bus anywhere along the route—just hop in when the group rolls by!
Safety & Registration: Riders who join outside of a meeting zone will be welcomed at the next zone, where leaders will confirm riders are registered and provide safety instructions to ensure everyone is ready and confident.
Group Travel to School: Once children join the morning bike bus, ride leaders aim to keep the group together and guide riders toward the school. However, families should be aware that ride leaders cannot guarantee individual supervision or confirm arrival.
End of Route: The bike bus always ends at the school. After a brief celebration and snacks, kids join outdoor school supervision to wait for the welcome bell.
Afternoon Rides
Departure Timing: Afternoon rides typically leave about 10 minutes after school dismissal, though exact times vary by route. Check your bike bus schedule for details.
Safety First: Before departure, leaders confirm registration and share safety instructions to ensure everyone is ready and confident.
Flexible Drop-Off: If you’re not joining the bike bus ride home with your child, you’re welcome to meet them at a designated meeting zone or have them leave the bike bus at any point to complete their journey home.
Independent Exit: While ride leaders keep an eye on the group and support riders throughout the journey home, they don’t track exactly where each child leaves the ride. Riders should know when and where they plan to exit, and leaders will step in if any concerns arise.
Tip: Instruct your children to stay with the bike bus until you meet and collect them—if you for some reason are unable to meet, the bike bus has contingency planning for riders that don’t leave the bike bus.
Register a Rider
Signing Up to Ride
All riders—students, family, and volunteers—must register with Bike Bus Edmonton for the season before joining any ride. Registration helps us keep everyone safe and informed.
No cost: It’s free to ride with Bike Bus Edmonton
Required for All Riders: Every participant must be registered, including parents and volunteers.
Flexible Participation: Registration is for the season—not for individual rides. Once registered, families and volunteers can join any ride they choose.
Emergency Info: Registration ensures leaders have access to important emergency contact and health information.
Quick & Easy: Registration can be completed instantly online, and even using a smartphone or other mobile device.
On-the-Spot Checks: Ride leaders will confirm registration as riders join the group, and facilitate fast and easy on-the-spot registrations as needed.
Inclusive
Bike Bus Edmonton rides are designed to be welcoming and accessible for all children and families. We believe every child deserves the opportunity to ride safely and joyfully, regardless of ability or access to equipment.
All Abilities Welcome: Riders of all abilities are encouraged to join, including those with disabilities. Please reach out to coordinate accommodations.
Adaptive Support Available: We can coordinate adaptive bicycle supports, and we offer cargo bikes for families.
Safe & Accessible Routes: Routes are selected with safety and accessibility as top priorities.
Bike Access Program : We’re exploring ways to help families without bikes participate. This includes bikes for kids and adults, and cargo bikes too!
Our Goal: Every child who wants to ride can do so safely, confidently, and joyfully.
Celebrating the Ride
Every morning ride ends with a celebration! Bike Bus Edmonton provides snacks at the school, and riders can earn fun achievement awards along the way.
Post-Ride Snacks: Enjoy a small treat after each ride, provided by Bike Bus Edmonton. Allergies noted in the participation waiver will be shared with ride leaders.
We Recognize Achievements: Kids get badges for milestone events like:
Rookie with Riz: Earn your first badge after joining your first bike bus ride!
Spokes of Steel: Complete five rides and become a certified ride pro.
Bro Rider: Invite a friend or family member to join the ride.
Rain Rider: Brave the elements and earn this badge after your first rainy-day ride.
Bike Name Plate and Achievement badges
School and Care Coordination
Bike Bus Edmonton works closely with schools and care programs to ensure safe and smooth transitions for riders at drop-off and pick-up.
School Supervision Coordination: We coordinate with schools so outdoor supervision staff are aware of Bike Bus Edmonton’s arrival and departure routines.
Informal Check-Ins: Ride leaders make informal contact with school supervisors to share relevant info about bike bus riders.
Parent/Guardian Approval: Most schools require approval for bike bus leaders to leave with students. Bike Bus Edmonton facilitates this and provides rider lists to school administration.
Rider Identification: Registered riders receive a helmet sticker and bike nametag to help school staff recognize approved participants.
Out of School Care: We aim to coordinate with Out of School Care programs, but it’s the parent/guardian’s responsibility to inform them if their child will leave with the bike bus instead.
Registered Rider Helmet badge
Operates Independently from Schools
Bike Bus Edmonton is a community-led initiative that promotes safe, active transportation to school. While we coordinate with schools to support safe transitions, we operate independently and are not formally affiliated with any school or school board.
Community-Led: Rides are organized and guided by adult volunteers from the community.
Independent from Schools: Bike Bus supports families in getting to school, but it’s not operated by the school or school board.
Coordinated with Schools: We work with schools to ensure our rides integrate smoothly into their operations.
An Alternative to the Yellow Bus: Bike Bus offers a different way to get to school—active, social, and fun—but it’s not governed by the same policies as traditional school transportation.
Family-Directed Participation: Joining the bike bus is a family choice. Parents and guardians remain responsible for their child’s readiness and safety.
Keeping the Group Together
Bike Bus Edmonton rides are carefully organized to keep everyone safe, visible, and moving as one group from start to finish.
Ride Leader Roles: Each ride is led by a pilot at the front and a sweeper at the back. No one rides ahead of the pilot or behind the sweeper.
Group Regrouping: Before every crossing (typically every 200 – 300 m), the group gathers in a designated zone. The pilot only proceeds once the sweeper confirms everyone is caught up and ready.
No One Left Behind: If a rider falls behind or needs help, the sweeper can signal the pilot to stop the group, and support is coordinated to ensure they rejoin safely.
Pace & Flow: Ride leaders adjust the pace—usually between 8 – 12 km/h—to keep the group together and comfortable.
Incident Response: We have procedures in place for situations that could cause separation or prevent a rider from keeping up.
Communication
Bike Bus Edmonton uses multiple channels to keep families informed and connected—before, during, and after the ride.
Critical Updates by Text Message: Important ride communications are sent via text message to the phone numbers provided during rider registration. Examples include:
Urgent notifications related to safety and incident management
Optional Messenger App: Registered riders will be invited to join the Bike Bus Edmonton group chat in a popular messenger application. This space is used for:
Non-critical ride updates
Live bike bus location updates
Community discussion
Stay Connected: Follow us on Instagram @bikebusedmonton sign up for our newsletter, and keep an eye on this website for announcements.
Equipment Requirements
To ensure a safe and successful ride, all participants must come prepared with the right gear. Ride leaders may turn away riders who arrive without the minimum required equipment.
We are inclusive, if you don’t have the equipment you need to participate, please reach out!
Helmets:
All minor riders and passengers must wear a properly fitted bicycle helmet.
Helmet use is strongly recommended for all adult riders.
Required for Independent Riders:
A properly maintained bicycle
A bell
Lights (steady white front/red rear - not flashing)
Required from October 1 to March 31Clothing appropriate for the weather to stay warm and dry
Bike lock
Recommended Equipment:
Additional bike lights for visibility
Bright or reflective clothing and accessories
Bike Access Program: Bike Bus Edmonton is inclusive, we want to facilitate participation for every child who wants to ride. We’re developing a program to help equip riders who would otherwise be unable to participate. Reach out for more information.
Schedule Updates and Cancellation
Bike Bus Edmonton prioritizes safety and predictability. Ride schedules may change due to weather or other safety concerns, and we do our best to communicate clearly and promptly.
Safety First: Rides may be cancelled in accordance with safety limitations.
Timely Notifications: If a same-day cancellation is necessary, we aim to send it early enough for families to pivot to their alternative transportation, like the yellow bus.
Afternoon Considerations: Ride leaders consider impacts on school operations and family logistics, especially for afternoon cancellations that may affect pick-up plans.
On-Time Target: Ride operations and contingency planning prioritize arrivals no later than 15 minutes after scheduled. A ride trending towards a delay greater than 15 minutes will generate a critical update.
Critical Communication: Schedule changes and cancellations are considered critical updates. See communications for how these are delivered.
Weather and Ride Condition Limits
Bike Bus Edmonton rides may be cancelled or delayed if minimum safety conditions are not met. These decisions prioritize rider safety and are communicated as critical updates.
Temperature: Rides will be cancelled if the forecast or actual temperature (per Environment Canada for Edmonton) is colder than -15°C ambient or -23°C wind chill.
Note: Riding a bike in the winter is not a cold as it sounds, set aside your assumptions and give it a try!Rain: We ride in the rain. Although, morning rides may be cancelled if rain is substantial and likely to result in children arriving wet to school.
Severe weather: Rides will be cancelled if Environment Canada issues alerts for:
Tornado Warning or Watch
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
Lightning: If lighting is observed within 10 km of the ride area within 30 minutes of the start time, the ride will be cancelled.
Air Quality: Rides will be cancelled if Environment Canada reports an AQHI in Edmonton of 6 or worse.
Daylight: No limits, lights are required equipment.
Road conditions: Varies based on leader assessment—upcoming rides will be cancelled if snow volume, ice, ruts, salt slush, and other hazards prevent safe riding conditions.
Leadership: Rides will be cancelled if leadership targets cannot be met.
During-ride response: If hazardous conditions like severe weather develop mid-ride, incident management procedures will be activated.
Delay option: If conditions are expected to improve where these conditions will be met, within 15 minutes delay upon a start time.
Ride Leadership
Bike Bus Edmonton rides are guided by dedicated volunteers—often parents, grandparents, or trusted community members—who help create a safe, smooth, and joyful experience for all riders.
Volunteer-Led: Leaders are adult volunteers who receive the resources they need to succeed, including access to incident management and operational guides.
Join the Team: Interested in helping out? Sign up to volunteer.
Types of Ride Leaders
Each ride is supported by adults in designated roles:
Pilot: Leads the group from the front, manages wayfinding, and regroups riders before crossings.
Sweeper: Rides at the back to support riders and ensure no one is left behind.
Crossing Supervisor: Assists with safe street crossings.
Joy Rider: Keeps the energy high with music, cheers, and smiles.
Inclusion Rider: Supports riders with diverse needs, usually by riding a cargo bike.
Note: In smaller groups, leaders may take on multiple roles—for example, the sweeper may also act as the crossing supervisor.
What Ride Leaders Do
Bike Bus leaders prioritize safety and fun:
Enhance safety and rider confidence
Promote enthusiasm for active transportation
Create a high-energy environment (portable speakers encouraged!)
Wear high-visibility vests
Give clear instructions to guide riders
Stay in close communication with each other
Follow emergency and incident protocols
Are generally designated before the ride begins
Ensure at least one leader is present for the full ride
May join or leave the group at convenient points along the route
Fill vacant ride-leader roles by inviting other adult riders to step in
Crossing Safety Management
Bike Bus Edmonton takes crossing safety seriously. Every crossing is carefully managed to keep riders together and facilitate safe decision-making.
What is a Crossing? Any location where a rider must yield their right of way to another road user.
Crossing Supervisors: This ride leader is positioned at each crossing to assist riders and monitor safety.
Designated Crossing Strategies: Riders re-group before every crossing, and each crossing type has a specific strategy, for example:
Stop/Yield Sign Crossings: Leaders dismount and guide the group across as pedestrians to ensure right of way and group cohesion.
Turn-Related Crossings: The crossing supervisor monitors for oncoming traffic and supports riders in making safe decisions.
Traffic Light Crossings: The crossing supervisor stops the group at the end of the signal. The pilot waits on the far side to regroup riders during the next signal cycle.
Crossing Plans: Bike Bus Edmonton develops crossing plans for every crossing on every route, and makes considerations for known risks for every unique scenario.
Safety Decisions
Bike Bus Edmonton encourages every rider—especially children—to make their own safety decisions at crossings. This builds lifelong skills and confidence for independent riding.
What is a Safety Decision? A safety decision is a rider’s personal judgment about whether it is safe to proceed at a crossing.
Supported Decision-Making: Crossing supervisors are positioned at safety decision hotspots to help ensure every safety decision is the right one.
Safety by design: Our rides have crossing strategies to facilitate safety decisions and eliminate the dangers of biases common to group rides.
Safety
Bike Bus Edmonton is designed with safety at its core—from route planning to ride leadership and rider communication.
Crossing Planning: We develop detailed plans for every crossing to ensure safe, predictable group movement.
Ride Leadership: Our ride leaders have roles that directly support group safety. They’re equipped with group management skills, communication tools, and incident response procedures.
Group Visibility: There’s safety in numbers. We ride as a visible, vibrant group—bright clothing, high-visibility vests, music, and strategically placed leaders all help make us seen and heard.
Communication: All riders receive safety instructions at the start of every ride, including:
Emergency stop: Stop and wait in a safe place if you hear “emergency stop” or more than 3 whistle blasts
Stay right: Always ride on the right half of the road, to the right of leaders
Follow the pilot: Never pass the pilot at the front of the group
Safe Route Selection: Our routes are chosen with safety as the top priority.
We aim to:Minimize the number of crossings
Use City of Edmonton bike lanes and shared pathways
Prioritize roads with lower traffic volumes
Favor school/playground zones with slower speed limits
Choose roads with simpler intersections and fewer traffic directions
Use signalized crossings whenever possible
Example Crossing Plan
Incident Management
Bike Bus Edmonton has a proactive incident management plans to keep riders safe and families informed. Our volunteers are equipped to respond to a range of situations, including mechanical issues, medical events, severe weather, delays, and missing riders.
Emergency Response: If an incident occurs, the ride may be stopped using a clear emergency signal. Leaders ensure all riders are safe while coordinating next steps.
Leader Preparedness: Ride leaders carry first aid kits, basic bike repair tools, and monitor weather alerts in real time.
Parent Notification: If a rider cannot continue, the parents are contacted and the group adjusts to support the situation.
Safety Locations: In case of severe weather or emergencies, the group will relocate to one of several pre-arranged safe locations.
Communication Tools: Leaders are in direct communication during the ride and share live location updates. Parents receive notifications for delays, emergencies, or any situation affecting a rider.
Continuous Improvement
Bike Bus Edmonton is committed to learning and growing. Organizers and leaders regularly reflect on each ride and adjust based on experience and feedback.
Post-Ride Briefing: After each morning ride, the pilot facilitates a brief discussion—either in person or via leadership communication channels. Discussion points include:
What did or did/not go well?
Were there any risks or complications that need attention?
Did we have the right number of leaders for the group size?
Parent and Rider Feedback: We regularly invite feedback from families through the communication channels outlined in this guide. Organizers do their best to consider all input and make thoughtful adjustments in line with the guiding principles of the ride.
Do you like what you see?
Join the movement!
Bike Bus Edmonton is powered by community—families, volunteers, and champions who believe in safer, more joyful ways to get to school. Whether you're nominating a school, starting a new route, or lending a hand, your energy helps grow the movement. Submit a Join the Movement form to tell us how you’d like to connect. We can’t wait to ride with you!
Do you want to ride with us?
Register a Rider