Katherine Nicolai

I could have managed it, even on the very cold days. but had found that it was better to keep my car near where the kids crossed in bitter weather. I had a collection of extra hats and gloves in my trunk for anyone who had forgotten theirs, even a box of hand warmers that I passed out when it was really brutal.

I could have managed it, even on the very cold days. but had found that it was better to keep my car near where the kids crossed in bitter weather. I had a collection of extra hats and gloves in my trunk for anyone who had forgotten theirs, even a box of hand warmers that I passed out when it was really brutal.

I could have managed it, even on the very cold days. but had found that it was better to keep my car near where the kids crossed in bitter weather. I had a collection of extra hats and gloves in my trunk for anyone who had forgotten theirs, even a box of hand warmers that I passed out when it was really brutal.

I'd played music from the car stereo on those days, to dance to when my legs grew numb, to boost the young ones' spirits on their way to school. But now that the days were warming and sunnier, there were other ways to keep the kids moving and cheerful.

I'd played music from the car stereo on those days, to dance to when my legs grew numb, to boost the young ones' spirits on their way to school. But now that the days were warming and sunnier, there were other ways to keep the kids moving and cheerful.

I'd played music from the car stereo on those days, to dance to when my legs grew numb, to boost the young ones' spirits on their way to school. But now that the days were warming and sunnier, there were other ways to keep the kids moving and cheerful.

They called it the Bike Bus, and it consisted of a few teachers and parents leading a pack of kids, all on bikes, to school in the morning and back home in the afternoon. Our P.E. teacher had started it a few years before. after getting the idea from a colleague in another district, and had come to school safety and crossing guards to make a plan.

They called it the Bike Bus, and it consisted of a few teachers and parents leading a pack of kids, all on bikes, to school in the morning and back home in the afternoon. Our P.E. teacher had started it a few years before. after getting the idea from a colleague in another district, and had come to school safety and crossing guards to make a plan.

They called it the Bike Bus, and it consisted of a few teachers and parents leading a pack of kids, all on bikes, to school in the morning and back home in the afternoon. Our P.E. teacher had started it a few years before. after getting the idea from a colleague in another district, and had come to school safety and crossing guards to make a plan.

The owner of the bike shop downtown had stepped in to help as well. He'd even started a monthly bike maintenance and repair clinic at the school. where our riders learned to patch a tire to fix broken chains and adjust their brakes.

The owner of the bike shop downtown had stepped in to help as well. He'd even started a monthly bike maintenance and repair clinic at the school. where our riders learned to patch a tire to fix broken chains and adjust their brakes.

The owner of the bike shop downtown had stepped in to help as well. He'd even started a monthly bike maintenance and repair clinic at the school. where our riders learned to patch a tire to fix broken chains and adjust their brakes.

Everyone had to wear a helmet. We tried to keep the ratio of grown-ups to kids at about one to four. Kids needed to stay behind the leader, and everyone kept to the planned route. After that, the goal was just to have fun outside together. And boy, did we have fun. The bus driver, the grown-up in front, carried a speaker in their basket and played happy, upbeat music.

Everyone had to wear a helmet. We tried to keep the ratio of grown-ups to kids at about one to four. Kids needed to stay behind the leader, and everyone kept to the planned route. After that, the goal was just to have fun outside together. And boy, did we have fun. The bus driver, the grown-up in front, carried a speaker in their basket and played happy, upbeat music.

Everyone had to wear a helmet. We tried to keep the ratio of grown-ups to kids at about one to four. Kids needed to stay behind the leader, and everyone kept to the planned route. After that, the goal was just to have fun outside together. And boy, did we have fun. The bus driver, the grown-up in front, carried a speaker in their basket and played happy, upbeat music.

And watching the kids sing along as they zoomed past made me smile so hard that tears sometimes came to my eyes. Often, on days I wasn't stationed at my post, days I wasn't scheduled to volunteer at all, I found myself rolling down my driveway on my own bike. and heading out to help ride along.

And watching the kids sing along as they zoomed past made me smile so hard that tears sometimes came to my eyes. Often, on days I wasn't stationed at my post, days I wasn't scheduled to volunteer at all, I found myself rolling down my driveway on my own bike. and heading out to help ride along.

And watching the kids sing along as they zoomed past made me smile so hard that tears sometimes came to my eyes. Often, on days I wasn't stationed at my post, days I wasn't scheduled to volunteer at all, I found myself rolling down my driveway on my own bike. and heading out to help ride along.

I'd pick up the rear to watch for stragglers, or weave into the middle of the pack to help the kids keep pace and pay attention. The bike bus was a source of pure joy for me, and I knew I wasn't the only one.

I'd pick up the rear to watch for stragglers, or weave into the middle of the pack to help the kids keep pace and pay attention. The bike bus was a source of pure joy for me, and I knew I wasn't the only one.