Columbine Elementary Bici Bus: A rolling revolution in school transportation

En Español

Every Wednesday morning, a group of students and parents hop on their bicycles and pedal toward Columbine Elementary School, creating a vibrant and inspiring sight. The “Columbine Bici Bus Crew” is redefining how students get to school, fostering a sense of community, sustainability, and accessibility along the way.

The initiative began last spring as a small effort by a few parents who wanted to make biking to school a more viable and fun option. Over time, it has blossomed into a weekly event, with more families joining in to create a safe and supportive biking caravan for students.

One of the most touching stories to emerge from the Bici Bus comes from Columbine Elementary parents, Peter and Vanessa Stamborski, who stepped in to help two students who were struggling with transportation. The siblings, new to the country and unfamiliar with public transit, faced significant challenges in getting to school. During a parent-teacher conference, their teacher brainstormed possible solutions, and Peter and Vanessa, who happened to overhear the conversation, immediately offered to escort them by bike. 

Since that day, the children started riding with the Stamborkis and are now thriving at Columbine. Once speaking only Pashto, they are now rapidly learning English, and their confidence has soared—all thanks to the simple yet powerful act of community support.

The Bici Bus is more than just a mode of transportation; it’s an experience that brings joy and camaraderie. Parents ride in a protective formation around the children, ensuring their safety while also modeling sustainable transportation habits.

“There were so many reasons for the Bici Bus not to take shape—weather, time commitment, uncertainty about participation—but the moment you see your child beaming because they’re on a bike adventure, it’s completely worth it,” said parent organizer, Jordan Bailey. 

“From there, the Bici Bus started to grow naturally. The key is just to try it for one day. No pressure—just invite a few friends, and it will spread.”

For a glimpse into the Bici Bus experience at Columbine, check out this video on the Safe Routes to School Instagram page.

The Bici Bus movement, also known as a bike bus, has grown in popularity nationwide. Sam Balto, a Physical Education teacher in Portland, Oregon, has gone viral with his weekly bike bus, garnering him an invitation to the White House and a guest star appearance from Justin Timberlake when he joined Balto’s bike bus the week his tour came through Portland. 

Due to the attention of his weekly bike bus, Balto has created a webpage with his best tips for starting a bike bus: How to Start a Bike Bus. On the website, he lists a few of the many benefits of a bike bus including:

• Children feel the joy of freedom
• Communities bond while pedaling
• The chore of getting to school is a delight
• Our daily actions are a climate solution
• Wellbeing is prioritized on streets
• Children have independence in their lives
• The sound of traffic is quiet
• The sound of laughter is vibrant
• Our world heals and grows anew

As more parents and students recognize the benefits of biking to school, not just for health and the environment, but also for the bonds it builds within the community, the Columbine Bici Bus is set to keep rolling forward. Maybe this movement will inspire other BVSD schools to start their own bike buses, proving that sometimes, the best way to move forward is on two wheels.

If you would like help organizing a bike bus at your school, please email our Safe Routes to School team at SafeRoutes@bvsd.org. Learn more on the BVSD Safe Routes to School webpage.