Today's Streetswiki entry comes from Josh, a Livable Streets member based in San Francisco, who writes:
A Bike Bus is agroup of cyclists riding together to a specific destination on aschedule with an experienced leader. Bike Buses are often formed bycommuters who ride together to work. However, a Bike Bus can be adaptedto go anywhere groups of riders want to go- church, shopping, the zoo,parks -- If a road goes there, a Bike Bus can go there. It's called a "bus" because there is a set route and timetable so it can pick up more "passengers" along the way.
The Bike Bus rides two abreast (where legal) and will single up as needed.
Thepace of the bike bus is agreed upon by the members that day. Since theBike Bus serves a safety and a social function, dropping slower ridersis generally not a good idea. However, if there are enough riders,splitting the Bike Bus into two or three groups riding different pacescan be a good idea. Smaller groups are easier for motor vehicles topass as well.
TA has been organizing variations on the bike bus for commuters who ride over the Queensborough and Williamsburg bridges. Their bike commuter pools meet up once a month, giving homeward-bound cyclists some safety in numbers on Queens Boulevard and Delancey Street, where physical protection is sorely lacking.
Queens committee chair Mike Heffron tells us all went smoothly on the last Queens Boulevard pool. The next one departs this Friday at 6:30 p.m. from the base of the bridge, on the Queens side.
