Click on the Sign up button below and tell us what route you would like to sign up to.

Please provide your mobile number and what year group your child is in.
We need your mobile number as we use WhatsApp to organise each of our bike buses.

Sign up for one of our bike bus routes!

What is a Bike Bus?

A bike bus is a group of cyclists traveling as a single vehicle with the aim of getting kids to school safely. A bike bus typically consists of confident adult riders riding on the outside edges of the group providing protection for the less confident within the group. Bike buses travel at the speed of the slowest riders so no one gets left behind in what should be a relaxed enjoyable experience.

Why the Need for a Bike Bus?

Every bike bus needs adult marshals to volunteer their time to help escort the kids on their journey to school. Typically, you will be required to cycle at the rear of the group or along side the kids, protecting them from the flow of traffic. With experience you can also volunteer as a lead rider. Most schools use WhatsApp to arrange their bike buses. Please click on the “Volunteer” button below to send an email to the organiser of this bike bus.

Volunteer Marshal Sign up

Requirements, Check list & Rules

  • All children must be accompanied by an adult guardian or parent who will be responsible for the child for the duration of the bike bus.
  • Adults are responsible for their children.
  • All riders must ride legally.
  • All riders must show respect to all other road users, (including other bike bus users).
  • This is not an ‘official’ led ride — all riders have responsibility for themselves.
  • You must not overtake the front ride marshal.
  • If you join on the route, please join when there is suitable gap AFTER the front ride marshal.
  • Please be patient; this is not a race to school and some people may be slower than you. Please also try and stay with the group if possible –if you need to stop and walk, please let a marshal. know.
  • Parents must stay within sight of the children they are responsible for.

Bike skills & Bike Maintenance

  • Before joining the bike bus, we recommend that you ensure your child is reasonably proficient on a bike. Take them for a bike ride along a quite route or hit some wooded trails and teach them the basics of cycling safely. (Basic skills include: Starting, stopping, looking forward, maintaining a straight line, general situational awareness and using gears).
  • Make sure your bikes are in good working order before you join the bike bus.
  • Have a plan if you or your child have a mechanical. Know how to fix a puncture and have the necessary tools do do so. Unfortunately the bike bus can’t stop and wait for anyone that has a mechanical.


(Tuesday) Lanark Road Route: Departs Kingsknowe Park at 8am Click to view route. ( 3.5km – Estimated time needed is 17-20 minutes)

If joining the bike bus from the starting point please arrive in time ready for an 8am departure.
Ride marshals will help all riders cross the Lanark road.
You are welcome to join the bike bus anywhere along the route. Just filter into the group when it is safe to do so, behind the lead marshals.
The bike bus will proceed slowly down the protected cycle lane towards the Water of Leith Visitor Centre. ( We have a number of families join the bike bus here )
The bike bus will proceed along the bus lane and make a right turn across the A70 onto Meggetgate.
The bike bus will proceed along the quite streets of Meggetland and make its way towards the junction of the pedestrianised canal bridge and Colinton Road.
The bike bus will continue straight along Colinton road and go straight ahead at the traffic lights until we take a right turn onto S Gillsland Road where the bike bus will finish at the school gates.

To see the key junctions and marshal’s responsibilities, please read the guide below.

george-watsons-bike-bus-marshals-guide-lanark-rdDownload

(Thursday) Blackford Route: Departs from the junction of Charterhall Rd and Blackford Ave at 8.05am. Click to view route

Estimated travel time needed is 15 minutes. 

Park and ride options include parking on Charterhall rd  or West Savile Terrace which have no restrictions; Grange Terrace where restrictions begin at 10am

Cyclists depart Blackford Ave and  travel north until they turn left on to S Oswald Rd. We proceed through the Astley Ainslie Hospital. We exit the hospital at Canaan Lane junction and proceed straight to Morningside Rd. We cross Morningside Rd and take a quick left into Morningside Park. We then take the first left into Morningside Terrace which leads us on to Tipperilinn Rd. The bike bus then avails of the new shared space for cyclists and pedestrians within the school grounds from the Tipperlinn rd entrance and cycles  all the way to the play where they dismount. The bike racks of the Upper Primary are only 50 meters away from the dismount point.

To see the key junctions and marshal’s responsibilities, please read the guide below.

george-watsons-bike-bus-marshals-guide-blackfordDownload

(Friday) Colinton & Craiglockhart Route: Departs Colinton Surgery at 8am Click to view route. Estimated time needed is 16-20 minutes)

We depart Colinton Surgery at 8am and proceed along Colinton road until we take a left turn at Elliot place. We then proceed along Craiglockhart Rd and Craiglockhart Rd North. We then cross Colinton Road and proceed along the paths behind Craighlockhart leisure all the way to the school grounds.

To see the key junctions and marshal’s responsibilities, please read the guide below.
https://cyclejarjar.files.wordpress.com/2022/10/george-watsons-bike-bus-colinton-marshals-guide.docx

(Friday) Fairmilehead

Route – Departs Charwood at 8am Click to view route Estimated time needed is 20-22 minutes)

We depart Charwood carpark at 8am. We will cross the road when it is safe to do so and proceed down the A702 using the protected bike lane and bus lane until we reach Morningside. We proceed along A702 until we take a left turn into Miller Cresent.
We then take a right on to Morningside Terrace. We then take a left on to Tipperlinn Road and proceed into the grounds of the Royal Edinburgh which backs onto the grounds of the school.

Bike Bus Do’s Don’ts and Responsibilities

While bike buses are mostly a relaxed and fun way of getting to school, there are often parts of the route that are busy with traffic and obstacles blocking the way.  

Below are some useful tips for making the bike bus safe and on time for school.

Parents

  • Be on time. Arriving late can place ride leaders in an uncomfortable position of having to leave without you and your kids.
  • Ultimately your child(s) are your responsibility so please have them in eye view at all time. This means riding along side protecting them on the traffic side. Don’t speed off in front of them where you can’t see them.
  • Communication! communication! communication! The bike bus needs your help in keeping the group as one large unit. If gaps appear in front of you, either ask those in front to slow down or encourage your child to speed up to close the gap.
  • Along the route, remind your child  to stay a car doors width away from parked cars to reduce the risk of been hit by an opening car door.
  • Know what to do if you have a problem with your bike along the route. The bike bus can’t wait for an individual family  as we need to get the other kids to school on time. Please don’t be offended by those in the bike bus as they continue without you. Learn how to fix a puncture on all the bikes in your family group. Every bike is different.
  • Become a member of a cycling organisation like UK Cycling https://www.cyclinguk.org . They offer family membership which comes with liability insurance and peace of mind.

Marshals

  • Marshals make sure you set off with the smallest kids at the front so that the speed of the ride is dictated by them.
  • Front marshal, Don’t speed off. It’s very easy to go too fast. Keep looking over your shoulder and listening to communication from parents behind you about your speed.
  • Rear marshals should be scanning the road up ahead of the bike bus for obstructions. If there is an obstacle up ahead that requires the bike bus to cross over to another traffic lane, signal to cars behind and ensure that you take up the primary central position so that traffic cannot over take you. This will create a traffic free space for the front marshal to lead the bike bus into,  as it changes lane.

All

  • Ring your bells!  Why? ………………. Because its fun!

References and Other Successful Bike Buses

James Gillespie Primary School
http://blackfordsaferoutes.co.uk/jgps-travel-committee/cycling-bus/
http://blackfordsaferoutes.co.uk/bike-bus-guardian-guidelines/

Cycling Scotland; Bike Bus overview and organisation