Frequently Asked Questions

See our Routes page to find your school's Bike Bus and to check its status. Some routes have Guided Groups (led weekly by a team of volunteers). Some schools have Self-Guided Routes (these routes are mapped and open for families to try on their own, but still need volunteers to step up and help lead a group to make it a true Bike Bus experience). 

Fill out the Sign Up form if you want to captain a route, or help out as a "sprinter" or "caboose." 

Yes. Self-Guided Routes are available for families to ride informally, but they won’t have the same safety structure as a volunteer-led group. Be your own captain: View the maps, invite your friends to join you, and help create the next bike bus in your neighborhood. 

Routes are community-driven. Volunteers and families shape them by suggesting safe starting points and hop-on stops. You’re invited to help design what works best for your neighborhood. Fill out the volunteer section of this form to make a suggestion.

A bike in safe working order and a properly fitted helmet (required). Bells, lights, reflectors, and bright clothing are encouraged but not required. 

The first rule of Bike Bus is "Be Safe." The second rule of Bike Bus is "Have Fun!"

Most kids who can confidently ride their own bike (usually grades 2 and up) are safe to join. Younger children are welcome too if they ride with a parent, on a trailer bike, or in a bike seat.

Not necessarily. Many families start by riding alongside their kids until they gain confidence. If your child isn’t yet riding independently, you’re welcome to bring them in a child seat, trailer, or cargo bike.

Parents are asked to ride with their children whenever possible, or designate another adult chaperone. Riding together makes the Bike Bus safer and builds a stronger community. Older kids may be able to ride without a parent, but please check with your route’s captain to be sure it’s a good fit.

Yes! Most Bike Bus routes run rain or shine (April–October in Kalispell when schools are in session). Dress for the weather, and remember that rain gear makes the ride more fun. Extreme weather (ice, snow, lightning, or unsafe road conditions) may cancel a ride.

Meet up with the Bike Bus along its route on Friday mornings. You can hop on anywhere the group passes by, or join at a common gathering point near your neighborhood. Each route has a map and schedule so you’ll know when to expect the riders to roll through.

Each Bike Bus has volunteers with specific roles: a Captain in front, Sprinters who stay in the middle and then ride ahead to stop traffic at busier intersections, and a Caboose at the back. This ensures the group stays together and every child is accounted for.

(This is true for our Guided Groups. However, some of our routes may be designated as Self-Guided Routes that don't have any leaders at the moment. Check your school's routes for more details.) 

🚴 Captain – Lead Rider

• Rides at the very front of the Bike Bus.

• Sets the overall pace so kids don’t get too spread out.

• Knows the planned route and signals turns.

• Communicates with Sprinters and the Caboose to keep the group together.
  
  (Think of the Captain as the “bus driver” of the ride.)
  
  

⚡ Sprinter(s) – Runners Ahead

• Ride slightly ahead of the group when approaching major intersections or crossings.

• Pause traffic (safely) so the entire Bike Bus can pass through together.

• Rejoin the group once the crossing is complete.

• Help “stretch” the bus when it’s long, making sure riders stay safe between the Captain and Caboose.
  
  (Sprinters are like crossing guards on wheels — they keep the bus flowing as one big group.)
  
  

🚦 Caboose – Last Rider

• Rides at the very back of the Bike Bus.

• Makes sure no one falls behind.

• Helps kids who need to stop or fix something (like a dropped chain).

• Communicates forward to the Captain if the group needs to slow down or stop.
  
  (The Caboose is the safety net — no child is ever left behind.)

No — just a safe bike, a helmet, and a willingness to ride with kids. We’ll provide guidance on route safety and best practices.

Yes. Even occasional volunteers are valuable. Many routes use a team approach so captains and helpers can rotate.

It’s simple: Fill out the volunteer section of this form and suggest a starting spot near your home, and we’ll help you map a route to the school. Routes don’t need to be long or complicated — you might start with a meeting point near your house.

Join our Bike Bus team. You’ll never be leading alone. We provide route maps, timing tools, communication support (via messaging app), and a network of other captains to share tips.

Some routes already connect with bike lanes or trails, but not all. Part of the Bike Bus vision is to highlight where better infrastructure is needed. The Bike Bus is also a great way to have fun with your friends and to find safety in numbers, even when safe streets and paths don't yet exist in every neighborhood.

Join the Bike Bus in sharing feedback with city leaders to encourage safer streets. You can contact the City of Kalispell Public Works (email: publicworks@kalispell.com) or Planning Department. Visit the next City Council meeting and tell the mayor and council members why it's important to make Kalispell a safe place to ride bikes for all.

• Mail your Public Comments to the Kalispell City Council:
  Attn: City Council
  P.O. Box 1997, Kalispell, MT 59903
  
  

• Email public comment on agenda items or anything within the jurisdiction of the Council to publiccomment@kalispell.com.

The more kids and families riding together, the more visible the need becomes. Bike Buses have sparked real change in other cities, and we believe Kalispell can do the same. Ask your city leaders for additional bike paths connecting neighborhoods, new bike lanes and signs to create safer roads, repaving and maintenance of existing paths, and snow removal during the winter months.