What Happened?
On the 6th of February, The Hall was thrilled to participate in the Camden Bike Bus. This is a growing community of parents and children who cycle together every week from Chalk Farm to schools in Belsize Park. The initiative was launched in March of 2024 as a way for one parent’s desire to make her children’s first experience cycling on the road safe, enjoyable, and stress-free. From there, the Camden Bike Bus was born, and it has become a fun, community-driven ride opportunity where children cycle independently, flanked by parents who ride alongside them to ensure their safety. Along the way, Bike Bus ring bells, play music, and make the journey a fun, vibrant experience for everyone–creating a safe and friendly atmosphere for both kids and parents.
In the early morning of last Thursday, Hall boys were lucky to bike to school alongside Will Norman, the Walking and Cycling Commissioner for London. Norman got to experience the Bike Bus first-hand and meet some of the terrific parents and pupils who make it happen. Bike Bus and The Hall School are hoping Norman’s participation will help inspire more Bike Buses to spring up across London, making even more school runs safer and greener.
Miss Luck, The Hall’s art teacher and Eco-Schools Coordinator, joined the Bike Bus. Not only is she a great teacher, but she also is a talented photographer. So, she photographed the event, capturing all the fun.
Benefits of Bike Bus
Boosting Brainpower – Just 20 minutes of exercise can help your child’s brain prepare for a day of learning. Cycling is the perfect way to kick-start the day.
Quality Family Time – Bike Bus provides an opportunity for parents to spend quality time with their kids while getting active. For parents with older, more experienced cyclists, it’s also a great chance to drop their child off and return home to manage busy mornings.
Tackling Traffic – By swapping cars for bikes, Bike Bus helps ease the notorious traffic congestion around Camden’s schools–particularly the NW1 and NW3 school run traffic.
Environmental Impact – Cycling even just once a week significantly reduces your carbon footprint. Camden, like many urban areas, faces high levels of school-run-related air pollution, and we all have a role in reducing emissions where we can.
How to join the Bike Bus
All families can join the bus on Thursday mornings. The bus meets at 7:30 AM on Chalk Farm Bridge (also known as Regents Park Road Railway Crossing, next to The Pembroke Castle Pub). They depart promptly at 7:45 AM.
What to Bring
Bring your child, their bike (or a seat on yours).
Bring gloves – no one likes cold hands!
If you don’t yet have a bike or need a cargo bike, get in touch with Bike Bus. They will be able to accommodate you.
Route Details
Start: Chalk Farm Bridge
Route: King Henry’s Road → Primrose Hill Road → Fellows Road → Kings College Road → Trevor Roberts School (Drop-off 1) → Eton Avenue → Lancaster Grove → Lambolle Place → Belsize Park Gardens (Pick-up 2) → The Hall School Junior School (Drop-off 2) → Belsize Park Hall → St Christopher’s School (Drop-off 3)
If you live near our route, let Bike Bus know, and they may be able to arrange extra stops.
Get Involved
If you’re interested in joining the Bike Bus or have any questions, please contact Charlotte Claydon at claydon.charlotte@gmail.com. You can also follow them on Instagram or Twitter/X using the handle @BikeBusCamden to see what they’re up to.
For families living west of Finchley Road, consider joining North West Pedal Express. Find them on Instagram or contact Anna at annahitabenbow@gmail.com for more details.
Together, we can make our school runs greener, safer, and more fun!