Bike to School Day events encourage families to experience the fun and joy of cycling to school as part of a group "bike bus" to school.
In addition to the fun factor, riding to school reduces traffic congestion around schools and has a positive effect on health, mood, and improves our learning abilities.
Since 2009, BikeSafe has held Bike to School Day events with Miami-Dade County Public Schools and recently pioneered Bike Lane to School Day, a combination of Bike to School Day with pop-up, protected bike lanes to encourage streets redesigned for youth mobility.
Bike Lane to School Day: Pop-Up Bike Lanes
We recognize that not every neighborhood is safe for bicycle riding, especially for children. In many instances, these safety issues can be overcome with protected bike lanes and intersections.
However, bike infrastructure is expensive and difficult to justify. Bike Lane to School Day "pop-up" events provide an opportunity to demonstrate the positive impact that permanent protected bike lanes can have on youth mobility and congestion relief, using temporary, low-cost materials.
Pop-ups only require cones and washable tempera paint to demonstrate how impactful a protected bike lane could be.
This pop-up at Coconut Grove Elementary created a dedicated and separated bi-directional bike lane, solving a dangerous dropoff issue for the PTA's frequent bike bus to school.
Since the first pop-up event at this school in 2022, the bike bus has grown from 40 riders to over 150, with a corresponding drop in dropoff auto traffic averaging 30% across all events.
Before and After
2021
2025
Thank you to these organizations and entities for supporting BikeSafe's pop-up bike lane initiatives:
One of the best parts of a pop-up event is the pre-event Bike Lane Painting Party, where youths from the school and local officials come together to roll safe, water-soluble tempera paint onto the street to mark the new bike lane.
These events build a unique sense of community for the youths; a feeling of investment and involvement in the public space of their neighborhood.
It is an excellent way to create a sense of civic pride and engagement early in life.
Coconut Grove Elementary - November 2024
Henry H. Filer Middle & City of Hialeah - May 2024
Coconut Grove Elementary - January 2024
Coconut Grove Elementary - May 2023
Coconut Grove Elementary - October 2022
Coconut Grove Elementary - May 2022 - Pop-Up Pilot Test
Classic Bike to School Day
When all that's needed is encouragement, there's always the Bike to School Day event as we all know: Start in a neighborhood park and ride to school as a big "bike bus" group ride.
We've held these since 2009 throughout Miami-Dade County, in partnership with Miami-Dade County Public Schools and many municipalities.
We want a Bike to School Day!
BikeSafe is actively looking for schools interested in co-hosting a Bike to School Day event. Since we can only pick one to two schools a year (in March for Florida Bike Month and May for National Bike Month, respectively), please consider sharing how a Bike to School Day event - especially one with a protected bike lane - could benefit your school.
Bike to School Day 2019 | Fienberg-Fisher K-8 Center
Bike to School Day 2018 | Fienberg-Fisher K-8 Center
Bike to School Day 2017 | Jane S. Roberts K-8
Bike to School Day 2017 - Florida Bike Month | Jane S. Roberts K-8
Bike to School Day 2016 | Jane S. Roberts K-8
Bike to School Day 2015 | North Dade Middle School
Bike to School efforts in your neighborhood:
You can join the movement too: Bike to School Day is encouraged both as a yearly national event by Safe Routes to School's Walk Bike & Roll to School and some of the most effective events are grassroots "bike bus" group rides led by parents, or organizations like Sam Balto's BikeBusWorld.
Download one of our flyers or our Bike to School Day Guide and give it a try!
