Pedaling Change: Sam Balto's Mission to Transform Communities Through Bike Rides

Discover the incredible journey of Sam Balto, the passionate founder of Bike Bus World, as he takes us from his beginnings as a physical education teacher in Boston to becoming a leader in the movement for active transportation. Sam, affectionately known as Coach Balto, shares how he started with a simple Walking School Bus program and transformed it into a vibrant bike bus initiative. Inspired by international models like the bike bus in Barcelona, Sam catalyzed significant change at Alameda Elementary School in Portland, Oregon, with student participation skyrocketing from 75 to nearly 190. Listen to Sam as he unpacks the remarkable benefits of active transportation for students and offers practical advice on overcoming barriers to starting similar initiatives in communities around the world.

Experience the unexpected power of community-driven activities as we discuss how the bike bus movement has captured attention far beyond expectation, even drawing support from celebrities like Justin Timberlake. Highlighting the role of these initiatives in times of crisis, such as the California wildfires, the bike bus exemplifies how shared experiences foster strong community ties and promote healthier lifestyles. Sam provides a roadmap for establishing your local bike bus, demonstrating the profound impact such efforts have on both academic and social outcomes for students. With a nod to community events like the Venice Electric Light Parade, this episode celebrates the collective spirit of community engagement and the transformative power of coming together for a common cause.

Chapters

• 0:00 Bike Bus Movement
• 12:45 Strengthening Communities Through Bike Buses

Transcript

Michelle: 0:00

Welcome to who's your Mama, a podcast focusing on tomorrow's future, which are our kids, educators, teachers, parents, all encompassing with the goal of understanding that our brain is a muscle that we can exercise to control the speed in the direction that we want. Let's go y'all. The time is now.

Michelle: 0:21

Sam Balto, welcome to who's your Mama, thank you so much for having me. Oh, we're so excited to have you here, or Coach Balto, as many people call you right.

Sam: 0:32

Yeah absolutely. So you are the founder, executive director of Bike Bus World. Yes, that you started. April 19th will be your three-year anniversary, is that correct? Yeah, so I started doing bike buses April 19th. We're approaching three years and I've taken a sabbatical from teaching this year to start Bike Bus World, which is a national nonprofit to support bike buses and to help people start bike buses in their community.

Michelle: 1:10

So that is so you and I started communicating in the fall of last year, when I came across what you were doing and the movement you were making for kids and parents and overall getting people out there and, specifically, instead of kids having bus stops, they were having bike stops and picking them up so they could ride on their bikes to school. And, like yourself, I was called to action with starting who's your mama specifically watching what was going on post pandemic and how could we make a difference from things that were very traumatic for all of us? And utilizing things like exercise for brain health is life of mental health and wellness. So take us back to the beginning of the journey, because a lot of people want to make a difference and that will be listening to this and think about yes, I want to do something, and they have ideas and they don't know how to execute it. So walk us back from the beginning of what sparked the idea.

Michelle: 2:22

Specifically, being a teacher at the time in Portland Oregon at Alameda Elementary School, did I pronounce that right? Yeah, alameda, alameda. And then okay, well, it matters to me. So Alameda Elementary School and then you executing your plan. So walk us through what that was like.

Sam: 2:44

Yeah, so I've been a physical education teacher for over 10 years now and I was teaching PE in Boston in the Roxbury neighborhood in 2016 through 2018. And I found Safe Routes to School and they had a program, an initiative called Walking School Buses, which were organized walks to school on a designated route with meeting times, and so I did that in the spring of 2016. And, as a teacher, when you have bus duty and school car line duty and crossing guard duty and then you have the experience of leading a walking school bus with your students, how different that morning is than all the other mornings. The look on my students' faces, how they were calmer but also stimulated, and the good ways to set them up for successful school days, the social connections the kids were having and the adults were having. And since that morning, I've really just seen the importance that active transportation, especially before school, has on our students, and I've been continuing to do that.

Sam: 3:55

The pandemic happened. I did something really fun during the pandemic where I saw a video in Italy because Italy got hit first or earlier before us of all these families out on their balconies in their apartment building and there was like one person in the courtyard leading everybody in exercise and so I did COVID PE for like three or four months and so five days a week we'd meet at 4.30. Every family had their own family square, you know, socially distant from each other family, and we would do exercises and play games and it was a great way of physical activity and just community and looking forward to something. But then we went back to school and I saw a video in barcelona of a bc bus which was a bike bus, and I was like this 15 second video I maybe watched eight seconds of it. I was like I have to do this at my school and so I started putting the pieces together um, deciding the route, hanging out by the bike racks, talking, talking to parents, and we did our first bike bus in the spring, on Earth Day of 2021, 2022.

Sam: 5:11

And it was a huge success. We had 75 kids, which was well over 10%, and I was just like we have to keep doing this. The kids wanted it, the parents loved it, and so we regrouped, checked in with our parent volunteers. They were all able to continue doing it on Wednesdays. We added another route to meet up with the original route and we've been doing it for almost three years now and we went from 75 kids. We've had rides with 190 students, which is well over a third of the student body, which is well over a third of the student body and it was 26 degrees today and we probably had 30 to 40 students, you know, and parents riding.

Michelle: 5:55

And it's an absolute blast. That's, I mean, amazing on so many levels. What would you say was your biggest surprise of the level of support and and what would you say was was a challenge in setting it up, because I know that you um online. You give suggestions for other people that want to do the same thing in in other states and cities. Um, so what? Again? A few things that helped you be successful early on, and then areas that maybe you had roadblocks that you were able to overcome to keep things moving forward.

Sam: 6:34

Yeah, I mean this is such an interesting question One, because I've been doing this kind of programming for almost a decade now.

Sam: 6:45

And so I sometimes have to remember what it was like the first time doing it. But I think that you know, the biggest barrier is that like initial mental barrier of you know, can we do this? Is this something that we can do in our community? And, like, once you decide that it's worth giving it a try and you start sharing the idea with other people in the community, you're amazed at how many people raise their hand and want to be a part of it. Not everybody is the like first person, but there's lots and lots of people who will join behind and you just kind of have to take that first step of you know, maybe posting a bike bus video on your school's PTA page or in the community. You know communication, you know group, and you'd be surprised at how many people want to support in different ways.

Sam: 7:36

We have seniors who will ride with us or wait at certain corners to help, you know, make sure no cars are passing. There's just so many different ways, but it just takes that first person to sort of say, hey, let's give this a try. So I think that's generally the biggest barrier is just that mental barrier, you know, and putting yourself out there. So I think that's generally the biggest barrier is just that mental barrier, you know, and putting yourself out there. And I think it's really great that it doesn't cost a lot to start a bike bus, so you're not losing a lot if it doesn't, you know, work out. But we generally find that people love it and they want to keep coming back and that they're successful. Love it and they want to keep coming back and that they're successful.

Michelle: 8:14

I think that's such a great message overall for kids to learn by example, through adults, through community, which is, more times than not, we're the ones that stand in our own way If you're passionate about something and I say this as a single mama, my daughter actually turns 16 tomorrow. I can't believe it and I tell her anything worth you know having is worth working for, and there are very few things that come free in life. But you make your own destiny and passion and kindness is contagious in the most beautiful way and people feed off of that momentum and so we have those opportunities to do so If we want them. You know, if it was easy, everyone would do it. But actually you find, when you have that passion and you're authentic with your intentions, people do follow. And what beautiful messaging in so many areas to bring people together now and for kids to see that that foundation who wouldn't have loved to see more of that at a younger age?

Sam: 9:23

absolutely my um, my son. I started a bike bus at my son's school last year when he was in kindergarten and towards the end of the year he we're riding to the start of the bike bus and he looks at me and goes dad, who's the boss of the bike bus? And I go, what do you mean? He goes. Who told you to start a bike bus at my school? I said nobody. I just thought it would be something positive for you and your friends and the kids at the school and the families, and so I just did it and he goes. I love the bike bus. Thanks, I mean that message. You know we're modeling, you know being risk takers, being entrepreneurs leading with our heart, creating good in the world. And our kids do notice.

Michelle: 10:08

They absolutely do. I have certain mantras with my daughter that I say over and over, and one of them is what is the A in the house stand for, which is accountability, and there are very few things in life that are free. What's one of them? She's like manners, mama, kindness, and what you're doing with bike bus is embodies all that from a community standpoint. I'm a firm believer. You water the grass where you're standing, water beyond and spread the fertilizer, like these are things within our control and our kids, as you said with your son in kindergarten. They're pure, but they understand, they observe way more than a lot of people realize, and they are our future. So, talking about the future, you've had some really the present that leads into the future. You've, since we started speaking last year you continue to, which is such an honor to watch your growth had some really big wins that have gotten a lot of social media attention, a lot of social media attention. Can you expand on that and how that's impacting this? Continue to grow in this movement that's now being created worldwide.

Sam: 11:21

Yeah, social media is this amazing tool and it can be a curse sometimes, but it's a great way of sharing ideas. And nobody owns the bike bus, you know, nobody's the boss of it, but I feel fortunate that our bike bus might be the most you know, well known or most viral, and so it brings a lot of awareness and a lot of people see the videos. And just how I was inspired to start one from a video, I saw other people get inspired from our videos and so so we've had some videos that are like 16 million views. 18 million views.

Sam: 11:58

There's one with a crazy train by Ozzy Osbourne, and Sharon Osbourne downloaded it and posted it on her account, which was like so cool to see that happen. And, yeah, just seeing the joy of communities coming together has been really contagious and it sparks more bike buses. And recently, this school year, I impromptu saw that Justin Timberlake was coming to tour in Portland, and so I made a video inviting him to come, and it was last weekend, two weekends ago he actually did come and do a bike bus ride with us, so that was pretty incredible to have that experience.

Michelle: 12:44

No doubt. What was the reaction, not only from yourself, but from all the people that had invested their time and really didn't expect anything? That, when those things happen, you're not doing it for the notoriety, you're doing it for the community. And then to have something like that, what was that like for everyone?

Sam: 13:09

I think it probably feels very validating. I think it feels like you're being seen. I think you know bike bus leaders from around the country and like around the world are like messaging me. You know, like saying how all these people are coming up to them ask you know say hey, bike bus. Did you see Justin Timberlake did it? People are like joining their bike buses now because they've brought more awareness and so to have, you know, such a big figure like that participate really validates what we're doing absolutely and I think about things.

Michelle: 13:43

I I'm located in los angeles and obviously everyone understands the, the devastation that has occurred with the, with the wildfires, and still continues to be happening. It will take quite some time to rebuild. And so, again, speaking from a place of community, and I know at my daughter's high school the teachers have been talking to them about, you know, people in the Pacific, palisades and other areas where students are.

Michelle: 14:13

They're displaced and talking about um and they're touring because their families are trying to figure out where they're going to land and be very sensitive to what they're going through, welcome them with open arms, and that that strikes something in me too, thinking about places, because of this and in other areas of the country that I've been dealing with things, it's not just Los Angeles, but where bike vets could really um be present to the extent, um that you've demonstrated for so long. I just really see this branching out for you and to get the recognition from others because, like you said, social media can be a curse, but it's also a huge gift if used socially responsible yeah being socially, socially responsible, networking, um, and to watch, uh, that you get the recognition that that you so well deserve for doing something so great is, is a really good thing.

Michelle: 15:16

So then, on that note, now you're having these, these celebrities, that are being participants and noticing what you're doing. How has that changed and where? What can we expect from San Balto and the bike bus and bike bus world? Are we going to start seeing bike bus bands or where? Where? Where are you going from here? You said at the beginning that you're going to take, you're taking, a sabbatical, and so from from teaching this next year, what can we expect from you now? And moving forward and look, forward.

Sam: 15:53

Yeah, I think you know Justin Timberlake coming is a bonus, but I think this is always about the kids and the community and so we probably just you know we'll continue to focus on creating joy and opportunities for physical activity for our students. I really think about you know. I sort of call the bike bus your Swiss army knife for issues and you know if you're a school administrator and you're trying to deal with a problem like active transportation to school is one of the best tools you have and it's well-researched that kids do better academically when they're physically active before school. They get in trouble less, they have better social relationships and there's just, you know, tons of benefits. You know building stronger, safer school communities and you know thinking about what's going on in California. You know people are being displaced and what a great way to find your community than you know being able to join a bike bus and see the other kids that live in your neighborhood right away, versus everybody leaving their driveway in a car and driving and waiting in the school car line.

Michelle: 17:06

You know it's a really great way to find those connections and for kids, and we see that kids are able to make friends much easier by participating in the bike bus what would, on that note speaking of for, because I know people be watching this and and in LA and wondering how they're going to maneuver what's going on with them right now. How would you suggest they reach out to see if there's any local bike bus setups currently and if not, what would be the best way for someone or someone's to initiate setting that up as soon as possible?

Sam: 17:49

Yeah, so they're welcome to go to bikebusworldorg or reach out email at hello at bikebusworld and I'd love to help out how I can and try to connect with the Bike Bus Network in the Los Angeles area. I would say it's pretty basic starting a bike bus it's, you know, finding another family or two to start with. Find a meeting spot and a route, the route you know, basic level of safety to be able to ride on the route. You do create a safety in numbers, so the more people riding together, the safer it is, and that's well researched. You create a flyer, print it out with meeting times and the route and then share it with the community and be really inclusive and inviting. And then do it as you can consistently do it.

Sam: 18:42

So once a week, once a month, once a season, you just need to do it more than once or twice a year. And the more consistently that you do it, we find that families and kids are able to plan accordingly. So you know kids are asking for bikes for their birthday Families over the summer. We really find that if you start in the spring that following fall numbers really go up, because something happens during the summer where families kind of do this like planning with each other, and you know, all right, wednesday mornings we can't have any meetings. You know it's the bike bus morning and you know families figure out who's going to be able to work their schedules so that they can. You know that their kid can participate and so you know, do it as consistently as possible and it grows.

Michelle: 19:36

I, it reminds me. So I have a friend I don't know if you've ever heard of the Venice electric light parade. He started it in Venice over 10 years ago. His name's Marcus Gladney, and everyone. It was very much the same to bring people together during the community and everyone has their bikes lit up and things like that and um, it's, it's very it's kid, kids and family friendly. Um, and he even has you know if, if, uh, there are people that want that need extra accommodations. You know he tries and works in that. So, on that note, if there are kids that have special needs or things like that, is there any advice you would give on how to be able to make sure, especially as the numbers go up, that things are safe from that regard In terms of, like, kids that might need an adaptive bike or something like that.

Sam: 20:35

Yes, yeah, so I think yeah.

Sam: 20:46

So I think I'm a strong believer in it's not our job to solve all of societal's ills. Like you know, the perfection is the enemy of the good of societal ills. Like you know, the perfection is the enemy of the good. And so you know, sort of like not starting a bike bus until every kid has a bike and knows how to ride bikes and all of that, like we'll never get this going. But you know you start. You start building that social capital, that you know human capital.

Sam: 21:06

And then you know when people raise their hand and say, hey, I need help, or like I want my kids to be able to participate, but we, then you know when people raise their hand and say, hey, I need help, or like I want my kids to be able to participate, but we have, you know, this barrier.

Sam: 21:17

You have now this community that has this ability to come together and solve those problems. And so I'd say you know we're not mind readers. People need to be able to raise your hand and ask for help and hopefully your flyer has a place to contact and has inclusive language like reach out if you have any questions or if you need support. But definitely, we definitely have students who participate, who have different abilities and they have adaptive bites. And We've had one school where, like the PE teacher, the adaptive PE teacher, like, came to school early and the kid got to bring the adaptive bike out like three blocks and then when the bike bus passed he got to ride in it with everybody. So you know, you can be really creative around it so that people can feel included as well.

Michelle: 22:10

That sounds great. Well, so, as we're wrapping up, what can we look forward to besides just following your? Your crazy journey and everything that you're doing is, I think, is going to motivate so many people to not only start their own, but but to think outside of themselves and get involved in ways to be participants in the community, because it really is a power in numbers and does take a village to make a difference, and the kids are our future. So what can we stay tuned for? To look forward to what is coming up for you.

Sam: 22:46

Yeah, I think, just more promotion. I think I'll be doing more traveling this year and just, you know, telling the story of more bike buses around the country, and I think it's really important to remember that it's in our genetic code to be physically active and socially connected, and you know we should lean into that and, you know, find ways to connect with community and to move our bodies. Ways to connect with community and to move our bodies. And one of the big things that you know the biggest barrier we hear is the built environment isn't like safe for kids and families to be able to do a bike bus. So I think it's.

Sam: 23:23

You know, if you see the bike bus video and you're like, oh, that couldn't happen here, well, it's like, well, what can we advocate for? What can we ask the city to put in to make it safe for this to be able to happen? And so I really hope that the bike bus movement brings more awareness to children's mobility and gets just this huge group of people that you know are speaking up and creating more choices for how children get around, because you know, we like to punch down sometimes at kids just wanting to sit on the couch playing video games, but we have to look at what the built environment looks like and you know, is this actually a space that's built for children and for their independence to be able to walk or bike to their friend's house or to their first job or to school. And so I think you know, us adults, we play a big role in giving and making sure our kids have choices and that they don't have to be chaperoned and driven by their parents everywhere. That's right overall.

Michelle: 24:26

Setting an example, lead by example, is up to us to then pass the baton to tomorrow's future, and you are definitely doing that in such an inspiration all over. So thank you so much, sam, for being on. Who's your Mama? Keep up the good work. We look forward to continuing following you, and as I always start off that, there's no time more than the present, so let's go y'all. The time is now, and thank you again.

Michelle: 24:58

Thank you so much for having me, thank you for tuning in to who's your Mama and I look forward to collaborating from a community standpoint for the next episodes.