In Mexico City, a group of parents created the “Autocarro das Bicicletas” (“Bike Bus”, in English), a special system to transport children more safely. The initiative is already being implemented in other countries.
Cycling to school together is fun, healthy, economical, socializing and connecting people. That said, it seems easy, but how can this idea be put into practice in a city like the capital of Mexico, with more than 20 million inhabitants?
Monica Martinez, mother and designer, managed to convince the other families in the neighborhood. They organized themselves and created a kind of mini-cyclist train along an established route to the school. They named the project “Bicycle Bus”, which began two years ago.
For now, it only runs once a month. At the beginning there were 15 people, now there are more than 100, of different ages.
Parents act as escorts for the group of children driving to ensure safety. It is a challenge to publicize the initiative and raise awareness among other drivers.
But these parents want to spread the idea in order to inspire others, as a way of improving the well-being of their children and the air they breathe, in addition to reducing traffic, promoting sport, encouraging savings and along the way, pedal by pedal, transform the community.
Will we see this initiative in practice in Portugal? According to the organizers, what costs the most is getting started.
