Every Wednesday morning, a small caravan of cyclists in bright green vests rolls through Bergen Street, escorting children from East New York to Downtown Brooklyn. For roughly four miles, the Bergen bike bus creates a moving protective barrier, allowing kids to navigate one of Brooklyn’s busiest streets safely.

STORY HIGHLIGHTS

• Bergen bike bus escorts children safely from East New York to Downtown Brooklyn every Wednesday.

• Adult cyclists act as a moving protective barrier along the four-mile route.

• Free program with a website tracker allows parents to join at the optimal time.

• Inspired by bike-to-school initiatives in Portland and Barcelona.

• Addresses road safety concerns; over 40 cyclists injured on Bergen Street in five years.

• Focuses on safe, fun biking experience rather than traffic confrontation.

• Enhances kids’ confidence and encourages early cycling habits in New York City.

Volunteer Alex Goulet, 37, who has been part of the initiative for years, describes the ride as essential for both safety and joy. “It’s even dangerous sometimes for adults on bikes,” he said. “A lot of aggressive driving, and to have a kind of a buffer of bikers around the kids is really nice and helps them feel like they’re safe.”

He paused to watch the children ride ahead, noting, “You see the look on their faces. It’s just pure joy riding the bikes to school.”

Among the first families to join the Bergen bike bus this year was Tamika Charles-Sims, 48, and her 8-year-old daughter, Sterling. As Sterling wove through potholes and double-parked cars on a rain-slicked street, adult cyclists formed a protective perimeter around her.

Charles-Sims explained her motivation: “It’s such a New York thing to bike on the street. So I wanted her to get started early.” She followed her daughter closely, ensuring she felt secure while enjoying the ride.

The Bergen bike bus is completely free and features a website tracker that allows parents to join the ride at the right moment. Organizers said they drew inspiration from similar programs in Portland and Barcelona, aiming to create a fun and safe way for kids to travel to school.

The rides also address a serious safety concern. Public crash data from Crash Mapper shows that over 40 cyclists have been injured along this stretch of Bergen Street in the past five years. The adult volunteers act as marshals, stopping at intersections to prevent vehicles from turning into the bike lane and keeping the young riders safe.

Hilda Cohen, one of the program’s organizers, emphasized the importance of making the bike lane extra secure. “As someone who bikes all over, you can have just one brush with a vehicle that doesn’t go well, and you just kind of want to give it up,” Cohen said. “Kids shouldn’t have to deal with that. It just should be fun.”

For the children, the weekly ride is both a safety measure and a moment of excitement. Six-year-old Erin Chen, who has participated in the Bergen bike bus for three years, said, “You can get all the sillies out and stuff when you’re biking before school.” Even when the skies opened and rain poured down, Erin navigated the streets without hesitation.

Arriving at Downtown Brooklyn school, soaked but smiling, Erin said, “I have an extra pair of pants.” Her confidence highlighted one of the core goals of the Bergen bike bus: to make biking to school a joyful, safe experience rather than a stressful journey.

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