"Ching-ching"! Here comes the "bus"! For some kids in Barcelona, Spain, the way they go to school on Friday has become a little different.
In September, five children in Eixample, Barcelona, started up a "bike bus" program. Each Friday, they ride their bikes to school with their parents. Each time before doing so, they post their route(路线) online for other people to see. Anyone who wishes to join them can do so. The group has quickly grown to include hundreds of riders.
The bike bus begins at about 8 a. m. every Friday and lasts for about 25minutes. There are a few schools along the route. When students reach their school, they leave the "bus" and park their bikes. Instead of riding only in bike lanes(车道), the bike bus takes over the whole street. The local police support the program. They ensure the safety of the kids and parents by riding in front of the group and behind it.
Before the bike bus program, it wasn't very safe for kids in Eixample to go to school by bike. The bike lanes are narrow and the traffic is busy. Parents hope that the bike bus program will change people's ideas about getting around. Biking, they say, is a great form of exercise. It's also more environment-friendly than driving.