Dear Editor, Bathampton Primary School’s new “Bike Bus” is already proving a hit with families, with numbers of riders growing each week since it began in September.
It is also the first bike bus to launch in Bath and North East Somerset. The organisers have taken inspiration from Bristol, which saw its first bike bus set up earlier this year, as well as from other cities and towns where multiple bike buses are now serving local schools.
The Bathampton initiative is led by parents Jo Mouton and Saskia Heijltjes. Saskia is also a local councillor for the neighbouring ward of Lambridge, representing the Green Party.
Every Friday morning they lead children and parents on a safe and sociable group ride to school. By travelling together along a set route and picking up more families on the way, the journey becomes safer, greener and a much more enjoyable start to the day.
The official launch ride took place on Friday 10 October, with families celebrating in style – complete with flags, bubbles and music to mark the occasion. The event highlighted the joy of cycling together and the growing sense of community on the school run.
The Bathampton Bike Bus is supported by FRideDays, an initiative funded by Schwalbe Tyres UK and delivered by the sustainable transport charity Walk Wheel Cycle Trust, which helps school communities across the UK start their own Bike Bus. It comes at a time when demand for active travel to school is clear. The 2024 BANES Children and Young People Health & Wellbeing Survey found that while just 7% of primary pupils currently travel to school by bike or scooter, more than five times that number – 37% – say they would like to.
Bathampton Primary School is well placed to embrace this enthusiasm. Set in a beautiful environment with routes from the village and canal towpath, the school has long encouraged walking, wheeling and cycling, and provides secure, undercover cycle parking for pupils and staff.
Bicycle Mayor of Bath, Pete Dyson, welcomed the initiative: “Bike Buses are a smart and simple way to build confidence, reduce local traffic and make streets friendlier for everyone. They give families more flexibility and options. Likewise, our area needs more school streets, so children can cycle and walk safely without cars around the school gate.”
Jo said: “It’s been wonderful to see the children grow in confidence over the past few weeks. Riding together means they feel safe, and for parents it’s a lovely way to connect with each other before the school day begins.”
As a mum I love seeing the children set off with such big smiles, and as a councillor I know how important projects like this are for reducing traffic and pollution around our schools. The Bike Bus is already making the school run safer and more joyful, and it shows what’s possible when families come together. We need school streets so that every child can have this kind of safe and happy journey to school.
The Bathampton Bike Bus has already gathered momentum in its first few weeks, and organisers hope to see even more families join the ride as the year goes on.
Yours sincerely Cllr Saskia Heijltjes
Bathampton