A simple ride to school has turned Sam Balto into a social media hit.
Balto created Bike Bus World to get kids moving and excited about going to school. He and other trusted adults wear bright yellow jackets and act as the bus driver while riding their bikes through neighbourhoods. As they ride, they pick up other bike riders and form a chain of kids biking to school.
The videos have struck a chord online. Balto, known as Coach Balto, has more than 730,000 followers on TikTok who watch the Bike Bus and cheer the kids along.
The rides have drawn support from people who are not even taking part. Some stand on the streets and bang cow bells to encourage the kids to keep riding. Balto also plays music during the trips.
One video featured the Bike Bus riding along to Frankie Smith’s 1981 song “Double Dutch Bus”.
Commenters said the videos left a strong impression.
@coachbalto This is how it spreads. Not by getting it right, but by getting it going. Learn more about the growing #BikeBus ♬ original sound – Coach Balto
“I’d be so excited to hear music in my neighborhood like this knowing it’s just babies vibing going to school,” one person wrote.
“As a preschool teacher, I can only imagine what this does to the rest of their day when they get to start them in such a joyful, healthy way,” a teacher wrote.
Others said the videos made them emotional.
“Why does the bike bus make me cry? Literally every single time,” one person wrote.
“Why is this making me CRY,” another wrote.
Read more from inspiremore.
