Students in Charlottetown, P.E.I., are actively cycling to and from school together on weekly group rides. It is part of a larger global mission to transform the well-being of children, communities, and the climate through biking together to school.

Known as the Bike Bus, students follow set routes to school with adult volunteers, as more students join along the way. Charlottetown’s active transportation officer, Anna Keenan, first heard about the Bike Bus movement online and wanted to bring the idea to the Island. So far, three schools have signed up, with a fourth expected to join in the fall. Similar programs have started in communities in Edmonton and the Greater Toronto Area as well.

The children are loving different aspects of the movement, with some happy to ride to and from school with their friends, while others are applauding its environmental impact, as less traffic leads to less gas in the air. The support from volunteers makes parents feel more confident about sending their kids off on bicycles, and students feel empowered, discovering the physical benefits of cycling. Biking to school was once common on the Island, but the dominance of motor vehicles made the streets less safe for children cycling on their own.

Organizations like InjuryFreePEI and the City of Charlottetown recently helped provide specialized helmets for Sikh students. The city recently approved a 10-year active transportation plan that will improve cycling and walking infrastructure in the region.

Source: Maria Sarrouh, CTV News