Our bike bus is community action and environmentalism at a human scale…. In a world full of heavy headlines and endless problems to solve, the bike bus offers something refreshingly simple: keep everyone safe, keep everyone smiling. – Jake Herrle, Brentwood Bike Bus Captain
Meet Jake Herrle, parent of a third grader at Brentwood Elementary and one of the captains of the school’s bike bus. If you’re not familiar with the term, “bike buses” are an organized group ride to school with stops along a fixed route–just like a traditional school bus, but on two wheels. Below, Jake shares the school’s journey into creating a bike bus, offers tips on how caregivers might start one in their own school community, and reflects on the myriad benefits of the initiative–including more joy, for kids & adults alike.
Tell us a bit about the Brentwood bike bus.
Our Bike Bus launched in March 2025 and now averages about 40 riders each week, with highs of 80–90 and lows around 14 kids and parents. We ride every Friday during the school year, following a roughly two-mile route over mostly flat terrain, which we cover at a relaxed pace in about 20 minutes.
How did you first hear about bike buses? What inspired you to bring one to Brentwood Elementary?
We were fortunate to have both internal momentum from our PTA and external support from local biking organizations to get the Bike Bus off the ground. Brentwood PTA President Stephanie Brown had already been following the Bike Bus movement in Portland when Austin Youth Fitness (AYF) and WOOM partnered to help launch one here in Austin.
Because Brentwood was identified as a school with an existing biking culture, AYF reached out to our PTA, and they were immediately excited. The PTA put out a call for volunteers on the parent messaging board.
My wife saw the post first and, knowing I love biking, said, ‘Do you want to be a bike bus captain? The school needs volunteers.’
I replied, ‘Heck yes—I’m in! …What’s a bike bus?’
I had no idea. But once I looked it up, I was hooked. I started following Sam Balto for inspiration and ideas, and the excitement grew.
For about three months leading up to the launch, parent volunteers, the PTA, AYF, and WOOM met regularly to plan. We debated routes, rules, and roles. It felt like a lot of decisions just to get to the starting line, but the shared enthusiasm kept us moving forward.
We decided to wait until after Spring Break so we could maintain weekly momentum once we began. The launch itself was incredible—WOOM loaned bikes and handed out swag for the kids, AYF brought their expertise in group riding (which did wonders for my confidence), and we even had a surprise guest: Coach Sam Balto rode with us. It was a blast—and from there, the Bike Bus was officially off and rolling.
For parents/guardians who are bike-bus curious but might feel intimidated, what advice, resources, or learnings might be helpful to know about when getting started?
At its core, Bike Bus is about community. It runs on volunteers. For a ride of our size and distance, we ideally need five capable ride captains each week to manage intersections and keep everyone safe. The key is finding those core people who show up consistently—hot, cold, or dark—because they genuinely love it. Once you have that foundation, the rest is solvable.
The good news is there are more resources now than there were even a year ago. The City of Austin is offering training for people interested in leading a Bike Bus, and they’re even rolling out paid positions for Bike Bus leaders. Down the line, those leaders could help launch programs at other schools—who knows.
And of course, guru Sam Balto has a wealth of information at bikebus.world.
That said, the best education is to simply come ride with us. It all makes more sense in three dimensions, and seeing the principles in action tends to ease concerns pretty quickly.
From your perspective, what have been some of the benefits of the bike bus, both for kids & families who ride and the school community at large?
From my perspective, the benefits show up in layers—systemic and personal. This morning it was cold, dark, and rainy, and still 35 brave souls showed up. That’s at least 20 fewer cars in the drop-off line, reducing our overall carbon footprint and making things easier for the families who do need to drive.
And then there’s the impact for the kids. They start the day moving their bodies, laughing, riding together as a pack, and they walk into school a little taller on those days. I see it. I feel it.
Here’s what Stephanie has to say about it:
“What inspires me is watching the kids consistently show up to school full of energy—the music is going, they’re smiling, ready for the day. It’s amazing. There aren’t many things that make them eager to get to school on a given day, but this does. The community feels it too; neighbors come out to watch the bike parade, wave, and say good morning.”
— Brentwood E.S. PTA President Stephanie Brown
Share a highlight from the Brentwood bike bus experience so far.
Here are two quick stories from parents of Bike Bus riders. One dad told me his daughter hops out of bed, gets herself dressed, and heads out the door on Bike Bus days—it’s the highlight at the end of their week. Another mom shared that her son first showed up with training wheels, which for safety reasons, aren’t allowed. Two weeks later, he returned—same bike, no training wheels. His parents were so proud, and the rest of us were impressed and cheering him on.
As for me? This is joy in a bottle. I just love it!
I always finish the ride in a better mood. Just this morning, as we rolled up to school and watched the bike racks fill, music thumping, bubbles floating, parents high-fiving their kids, another dad turned to me and said, ‘Man, how could you not be moved by all this happiness as these kids start their day?’ I couldn’t agree more.
Our bike bus is community action and environmentalism at a human scale. It’s a shared purpose—and twenty reliable minutes of joy you can set your watch by. In a world full of heavy headlines and endless problems to solve, the bike bus offers something refreshingly simple: keep everyone safe, keep everyone smiling. That’s it. And it works. I’m deeply grateful to be one small spoke in the wheel.
