Celebrating the Flora Stevenson Bike Bus
Can you remember how you used to get to school?
For me, it was always the bus - growing up sandwiched between two busy A-roads, cycling wasn’t an option. I never experienced the joy of a Bike Bus… until recently.
Last week, I had the privilege of joining the Flora Stevenson Bike Bus for a special ride celebrating its first birthday. This wasn’t just any ride - it was also part of Cycling UK’s ‘My ride. Our right’ campaign.
A bright start to the morning!
On a beautiful morning, we were joined by campaigners and families, from across Edinburgh. More than 30 riders turned out with members of Queens of Pain, Infrasisters, Spokes and members of the council supporting the ride.
The Flora Stevenson Bike Bus has been going for a year now and is one of 11 official bike buses in Scotland. There are a couple of ‘unofficial’ bikes buses too, including the Noss Bike Train which we wrote about last year (and which was set up by ex-Cycling UK legend George Ewing). Learn more about official bike buses, or set one up using our guide.
The need for safe routes, every day
Flora’s Bike Bus is made possible by an incredibly welcoming bunch of parents and volunteers who have been helping kids get to school safely on their bikes for a year. None more so than Caroline Dodds who has assumed responsibility for Flora’s Bike Bus and helped co-ordinate the birthday bash.
Bike Buses make it possible for children to ride to school once a week, but the rest of the time, many are forced to rely on cars or public transport due to unsafe roads. The clear message behind ‘My ride. Our right’ and Bike Buses is simple: we need safe routes for active travel - not once a week, but every day.
The Flora Stevenson route travels through the Comely Bank area, following a quiet way until it reaches Crewe Road South, where traffic suddenly intensifies. This contrast highlights exactly why Bike Buses - and the calls for better infrastructure - matter.
City of Edinburgh Council and Police Scotland have supported the Bike Bus by pausing traffic lights most Friday mornings in order to let the group pass safely. It’s a small change with a big impact - and exactly the kind of practical, low-cost intervention we’re calling for through this campaign.
A wee bit of history - from balance bikes to bike buses
I decided to join the Bike Bus celebration after first meeting Jarlath Flynn at a Parents for Future event in Edinburgh City Chambers. Jarlath used to coach children cycling before discovering that bike buses were helping to get even more kids on bikes, he’s now responsible for setting up at least four Bike Buses in Edinburgh. When Jarlath invited me to Flora Stevenson’s birthday ride and put me in touch with Caroline, I suggested inviting other Edinburgh campaign groups who would be interested.
As I began organising the invites I learned a little about Flora Stevenson and discovered that she had been a social activist and campaigner who had advocated for equal education for women and girls. It felt very fitting then, to invite campaigners to join the Flora Stevenson Bike Bus in support of our ‘My ride. Our right’ which is calling women to have for equal access to the benefits of cycling.
Before the ride, I also spoke to my colleague Angie who runs our Connecting Communities project in East Lothian. Angie used to run Play Together on Pedals in Edinburgh and loaned some balance bikes to Flora Stevenson Primary School around five years ago. When I mentioned that I was going to be attending the Bike Bus her face lit up ‘I bet some of the kids we loaned bikes to will now be cycling to school!’
Sure enough, some of those same children had graduated from balance bikes and joined us on the bike bus. It was amazing to see the impact cycling had on children who all went to school enthused after a short ride full of bell ringing and ear-to-ear grins – plus each participant was also rewarded with birthday juice and brioche provided by a local business (including some hyper volunteers!).
Bike Bus of the future…
It’s important to acknowledge that Bike Buses are a joyful, rolling demonstration against the lack of safe options for families. So, while Bike Buses are a feel-good way to start a Friday, they’re also reminders of the changes we need.
