ride for change
Bike Bus
Join the Friday Bike Bus.
A safe, social ride to school — every Friday.
Good for kids. Good for community. Good for climate.
The Wao Aotearoa Friday Bike Bus is a supervised, weekly group ride to school designed to make active travel safe, social, and enjoyable for children and families in the Upper Clutha.
The Bike Bus is lead by Ride for Change Programme Lead Rob Barry.
Running every Friday morning during Term 1, the Bike Bus helps children build confidence on their bikes, develop road awareness, and start the school day with movement, fresh air, and connection.
Each Friday, children ride together as a group, supported by experienced adult leaders and parent volunteers.
To ensure safe supervision and clear communication, registration is essential. Parents register once, and children can then join the Bike Bus any Friday they like across the term, offering flexibility for busy families.
How the Bike Bus Works.
Each Friday, children ride together as a group, supported by experienced adult leaders and parent volunteers, with drop offs at Holy Family Catholic School and Wānaka Primary School
When: Fridays during the school term, departing 8:00am sharp
Start point: McMurdo Park, Albert Town
(via Hello Ranger / Northlake)
Children under 8 years are required to ride with a parent/caregiver.
Safety, Confidence & Road Awareness.
The Bike Bus is designed to be reassuring for parents and empowering for children.
Rides are run with lead and tail riders, managed road crossings, and a no rider left behind approach.
All are focused on building confidence through and along the way, children naturally develop better road awareness and shared-path skills.
Your child will gain confidence riding in a group and greater independence and responsibility
Why it matters.
Transport is the largest source of emissions in the Upper Clutha and school drop-offs are a big part of the problem.
The Bike Bus builds on the success of Wao Aotearoa’s Ride for Change programmes, including Bike for Books, which saw, 5,400+ bike trips completed, 12,000+ kilometres ridden, ~4 tonnes of CO₂ emissions avoided.
By making riding social, supported, and fun, the Bike Bus helps establish healthy, low-emission habits that last well beyond the school gate.