Bike Bus
Ride the Bike Bus!
Does your child go to school in Ashland? Join other kids and families — and ride bikes to school TOGETHER. Join (or start) a route that serves your family. Help transform communities and our planet through the simple act of riding bikes to school together.
What are Bike Buses?
Have you ever heard of a bike bus? Imagine a group of happy children on bikes, pedaling a fixed route to school and picking up more cyclists as they pass various “stops” — just like a gas-powered school bus.
A bike bus uses two trained conductors working together. One leads at the front; one sweeps at the rear. Additional volunteers can help “cork” intersections. There are one or more timed stops, where the whole group waits until a prescribed time to take off again together. But folks can and should join in at any point along the route (details below).
How it works
1. Find Your Route
Currently Ashland School District has one bike bus that serves the schools along Walker and E. Main: Walker Elementary, Trails, Ashland Middle School, and Willow Wind. Our goal is to create routes to serve every child who wants to ride a bike to school. See below for all details about Ashland’s first bike bus route.
2. Make a Plan
Your child (and you?) will need to be waiting at the closest bike bus stop when the bus rolls by. Riders must wear a helmet and observe all safety regulations. The bike bus currently only runs in the morning, so parents need to be prepared to bring their children and their bikes home at the end of the school day.
3. Ride in the Bike Bus
The current bike bus runs every First Friday throughout the year, rain or shine.
4. Tell Your Friends
It’s much more fun and a lot safer to ride as a group. Research shows that kids who get exercise before school have better academic outcomes. So, talk to your friends about riding the bike bus with you. Then think about starting a bike bus for the other schools!
Bike Bus Routes
Eastward Route to Willow Wind, Trails, AMS, and Walker
This route primarily serves families at Willow Wind, Trails, Ashland Middle School, and Walker. Lead parent volunteer = Mike Vergeer (text 541-631-9280). This Bike Bus will run the first Friday of each month, except when school is not in session. If it’s really awful weather, please text Mike to confirm before riding!
Eastward Route dates for Fall 2025:
September 5
October 3
November 7
December 5
Directions:
Route start (8:00 am): SW corner of Helman and W. Hersey St.
Brief safety orientation by conductors to all assembled
Ride SE on Helman. Cross RR tracks.
L on Van Ness (4-way stop)
R on Water (no stop sign for riders in this direction)
L from southbound Water St onto eastbound B St (no stop sign for riders in this direction)
Proceed eastward on B St. through 4-way stops at Pioneer, First, and Second Streets
L from eastbound B St. to northbound 8th St.
Enter east end of Railroad Park
Timed stop (8:10 am): east end of Railroad Park at Central Bike Path
New riders wishing to join the bike bus here should wait OFF THE PED/BIKE PATH
Ride Central Bike Path eastward toward Willow Wind
Cross N. Mountain Ave. (remain on Central Bike Path)
Central Bike Path spills into crosswalk to cross E. Main, after which, Willow Wind riders will split from the other rides.
Willow Wind Riders:
Turn L an proceed eastward on E. Main. Exercise caution alongside busy car traffic on E. Main, especially at Wightman Street intersection. Dismount bike immediately after crossing Campus Way and use the flashing lights crosswalk to cross E. Main and enter school grounds.
Trails/AMS riders:
Continue on Central Bike/Walk Path until crossing Walker Ave., at which point your group turns left and proceeds northward on Walker until reaching destination.
Walker riders:
Continue on Central Bike/Walk Path until reaching Walker Ave., at which point your group turns right and proceeds southward on Walker until reaching crosswalk that immediately precedes intersection with Homes Ave. Dismount bikes, use crosswalk, and walk on sidewalk on Homes until reaching destination.
To Parents
There are, of course, some risks inherent in bicycling to school. If your kid is wobbly or otherwise unready to ride near traffic, you should ride with your them. If they can stay focused and respond to some coaching, you can leave them to ride with the group. It’s your call.
Be a Bike Bus Leader
Mike Vergeer is a parent at Willow Wind. Mike is a certified bike safety instructor (LCI #2968), and a volunteer for the Ashland Climate Collaborative’s Streets4Everyone action team.
Any parent can be a bike bus conductor. All you need is a bike, some spare time, and the willingness to ride to school with your kids on a consistent schedule. Mike currently leads a ride once a month – every first Friday. Coach Balto in Portland runs his bike bus every Wednesday. The choice is yours.
Want your school to have a bike bus? Gather at least one other parent to help you, and then contact Mike at mvergeer@yahoo.com. He can help determine if your kid is ready, help coordinate new bike routes, and more.
Have fun! Biking to school creates social connection and a sense of safety for kids and parents. So get outside and enjoy the ride!
The Nitty Gritty. Check out this great article on How to Start a Bike Bus.
Contact us
If you would like to learn more about any of our programs — group bike rides, bike buses, Bicycle Benefits, youth bike education, or how to make our streets safer, please email us for more information.
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