b'of a social media sensation. (Videos of his rides can be seen on his Insta-gram page.) Coach Baltos idea took off, gaining sponsors as it galloped across the country. Those who sign up with Baltos program now get a set of sleek yellow slickers with Bike Bus printed on the back. Coach Balto and his sponsors also provide the speakers that are such an integral part of the bus ride. It helps create kind of a party atmosphere, said Ceperley, though he conceded that he usually uses the shuffle op-tionofhisphoneandhopesfor Seth Boyden Bike Bus leader Martinnothing thats too inappropriate.Ceperley gets ready to launch theOthers devote much more timeREGISTER NOW FOR CAMP & 202526 SCHOOL YEARtunes that provide the party atmo- OUR WARM AND WELCOMING SCHOOL PROVIDES sphere for the bike bus. to the playlist. John Speck, the leaderA HANDS-ON, PLAY BASED CURRICULUM FOR of the Clinton Bike Bus, reports thatCHILDREN AGES 18 MONTHS TO 5 YEARS OLDSchedules to fit your familys needs year rounders and sprinters. The sweepers stayhis wife, Cynthia, keeps a careful eye8am5:30pm, 9am2pm or 9am12pm at the back, encouraging stragglers.on the pop charts so she can play allulti-indoor play spaces BE PART OF Thesprinterspedalaheadtoclosethe most popular songs for the kids.r n oon enrichment YOUNG FAMILYnting workshops OUR VIBRANTmoffcomingintersectionstocars.It really gets her going. o utdoor t e e sensor COMMUNITY! space a f r yaTherearealsoadultstomakesureLikeBalto,SOMAsBikeBusg e p e xploration Schedule a visit!a rtumbling DANIELLE WEITZlkids dont wander across the middleposts its routes, times and videos off a mily events r e PRESCHOOL DIRECTORline, or weave in and out among theridesonInstagram.Theresevenau art 973-763-0113a t dweitz@bethelnj.orgncrowd. SOMA Bike Bus Group Chat, whichbethelnj.orgAside from those careful consid- has been used to organize large com- 222 Irvington Avenue South Orangeerations to safety, however, the enter- munity rides, said Speck. The group prise feels remarkably loosey-goosey.didaHalloweenrideinOctober, As the Seth Boyden bus snaked itsvisitingthecommunitysscariest way through the streets, more peoplehouses. It also did a ride to Cherry on bikes kept joining, even thoughLane, the thoroughfare that snakes the bus didnt slow down much. BythroughSouthMountainReserva-the time the bus got to Seth Boyden,tion and is closed to automobiles on it was about 50 people strong.Sundays. And there was a recent par-Meanwhile, inside the pack, a dadents ride to the Four City BrewingProtect Whatencouraged a young boy complain- Company in Orange that included a ing about cold hands to keep ped- tour of Montrose.aling. An older boy showed off forOneoftheothergreatthingsYou Love!the girl beside him by standing andaboutthebusisthatitbringsout placingbothCroc-coveredfeeton one pedal as he coasted down a small hill. Others sang along to Chappell Roans hit Hot To Go, making the hand motions for the letters H-O-T-T,O-G-Owithonehandas they steered with the other. Parents chattedwitheachotheraboutre-cent school performances, playdates and the like. Many of them bike to acoffeespotafterthedrop-offis complete. Its become a really greatLove isnt always enough,waytobuildcommunity,tomeetteach them to survive!people, Howley said. Many of the bike bus leaders use The Bike Bus movement was bornspecial bikes for the ride. Marshalls Rob in Portland, Oregon, developed by aHowley uses this three-wheeled electric bike with an attached basket large guy named Coach Balto who has, ac- enough to carry an abandoned bike cording to Ceperley, become a kindor rider.feature story /17'