Fridays are “bike bus day” for kids at this Massachusetts elementary school

Friday is “bike bus day” in Cambridge, Massachusetts. WBZ TV’s Penny Kmitt explains what it’s all about and why it’s so fun!

>>> NEW THIS MORNING, DOZENS OF STUDENTS IN CAMBRIDGE ARE JUST ABOUT TO TAKE PART, A DIFFERENT SCHOOL ROUTE TODAY. >> EVERY FRIDAY THEY FILLED THE STREETS WITH AN EVENT THEY CALL THE BIKE BUS. PENNY KMITT EXPLAINS WHAT THIS IS AND SHE WENT ALONG TO SHOW HOW IT’S BRINGING THE NEIGHBORHOOD TOGETHER. >> IT’S A BIG ROLLING PARADE OF JOY. >> Reporter: ALL ABOARD THE BIKE BUS. IT’S NOT YOUR AVERAGE KIND OF BUS. IT’S NOT YELLOW AND DOES NOT USE GAS. EVERY FRIDAY WITH THE HELP OF PARENTS AND VOLUNTEERS, DOZENS OF PEABODY ELEMENTARY AND UPPER SCHOOL STUDENTS MEET AT RUSSELL FIELD IN CAMBRIDGE. OVER 50 KIDS LINEUP TOTALLY SURROUNDED BY THEIR FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS AND TOGETHER TAKE A DIFFERENT ROUTE TO SCHOOL. FORMING THE BIKE BUS. >> WE GO STRAIGHT AND THEN A FEW MINUTES WE TURN AND THEN YOU ARE THERE. >> WE’VE DONE IT AND 25 DEGREES DAYS AND IN THE RAIN. >> Reporter: HE’S A CAMBRIDGE PARENT AND KNOWN AS MR. SHARK BIKE BECAUSE — >> IT’S A GREAT WAY TO START THE SCHOOL DAY WITH A BIT OF EXERCISE AND FUN. >> Reporter: FOR PARENTS AND TEACHERS VALUABLE LESSONS. >> IT’S GREAT INSTRUCTION ON HOW TO USE THE STREETS. >> I AM CONCERNED ABOUT CLIMATE CHANGE. >> Reporter: FOR KIDS, WHAT YOUR FAVORITE PART? >> THE DONUTS. >> Reporter: FUELED BY A MUNCHKIN I GAVE IT A TRY MYSELF. THIS IS MY BIKE TODAY? I HAVEN’T RIDDEN A BIKE IN 15 YEARS. >> THREE RULES. STAY BEHIND THE SHARK BIKE. LISTEN TO YOUR PARENTS AND? HAVE FUN. >> Reporter: WITH THAT, THE BIKE BUS IS OFF. ARE YOU HAVING FUN? >> YEAH. >> WE WENT TO GO FASTER. >> Reporter: HOW MANY MILES PER HOUR? >> 10 MILES PER HOUR. >> Reporter: IT SEEMS THERE IS A SENSE OF SAFETY. >> WE WANT KIDS TO HAVE FUN AND PART OF THAT IS BEING SAFE. YOU SEE THESE VOLUNTEERS IN THEIR YELLOW SLICKERS AND WE HAVE FOLKS WHO AREN’T EVEN PARENTS WHO COME TO HELP WITH THIS. IT’S A VILLAGE OF VOLUNTEERS. >> Reporter: — >> IT’S LIKE RIDING A BIKE. >> Reporter: HALF A MILE IN THE BIKE BUS REACHES THE FINAL STEP. WE WERE BUSY HAVING FUN SO WE ARRIVED TWO MINUTES PAST PEABODY ELEMENTARY STARTING BELL, BUT THE SCHOOL PRINCIPAL DIDN’T SEEM TO MIND. THE BIKE % BUS HE BELIEVES ALLOWS KIDS TO SPEND QUALITY TIME WITH THEIR NEIGHBORS. THEN, HE SAYS THE STUDENTS ENTER READY TO LEARN. >> ON FRIDAYS WE SEE LESS REFERRALS TO THE OFFICE BECAUSE STUDENTS ARE ENGAGED. IT’S A DREAM COME TRUE. >> Reporter: THEY ARE ABOUT TO TAKE OFF IN ABOUT AN HOUR AND THAT BIKE BUS IS BELIEVED TO BE ONE OF THE FIRST IN THE COUNTRY. THEY ARE GROWING THROUGHOUT OUR AREA AND THERE’S ONE IN LEXINGTON AND SOME IN SOMERVILLE. >> IT IS UNBELIEVABLE. >> THOSE ADULTS WHO VOLUNTEER TO BE THE CT RIDERS AND MAKE IT HAPPEN. >> THE TANGIBLE LESSONS YOU LEARN WHEN YOU’RE PARTICIPATING IN SOMETHING LIKE THIS. THE OVERWHELMING LESSON IS EMBRACING LIFE IN GETTING OUTSIDE. >> IT IS FUN. >> THE PRINCIPAL SAID THE STUDENTS PERFORM BETTER ON THE DAYS THEY HAVE THE BIKE BUS. >> THEY GET THEIR ENERGY OUT.