Katherine Nicolai

The kids bopped to the music on their bike seats. And the adults, while keeping one eye on the side streets and cars and driveways, were singing along too. At the tail end of the bus were some of the slower riders, some whose legs were just a lot shorter and took more effort to keep up. and some who just weren't in any particular hurry to get to school today.

The kids bopped to the music on their bike seats. And the adults, while keeping one eye on the side streets and cars and driveways, were singing along too. At the tail end of the bus were some of the slower riders, some whose legs were just a lot shorter and took more effort to keep up. and some who just weren't in any particular hurry to get to school today.

The dog at the fence, now finding a bright patch of sunlight, scratched at the grass a moment.

The dog at the fence, now finding a bright patch of sunlight, scratched at the grass a moment.

The dog at the fence, now finding a bright patch of sunlight, scratched at the grass a moment.

starting my day this way, with fresh air and joy, a bit of service, music, and others.

starting my day this way, with fresh air and joy, a bit of service, music, and others.

starting my day this way, with fresh air and joy, a bit of service, music, and others.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

He'd even started a monthly bike maintenance and repair clinic at the school, where the riders learned to patch a tire, to fix broken chains and adjust their brakes.

He'd even started a monthly bike maintenance and repair clinic at the school, where the riders learned to patch a tire, to fix broken chains and adjust their brakes.

He'd even started a monthly bike maintenance and repair clinic at the school, where the riders learned to patch a tire, to fix broken chains and adjust their brakes.

We tried to keep the ratio of grown-ups to kids at about one to four. Kids needed to stay behind the leader.

We tried to keep the ratio of grown-ups to kids at about one to four. Kids needed to stay behind the leader.

We tried to keep the ratio of grown-ups to kids at about one to four. Kids needed to stay behind the leader.