Pedal Power: FWCD’s Lower School Bike Bus

What started as one family’s idea to bike to school has grown into an FWCD Lower School ritual that is redefining Friday mornings – one pedal at a time.

In September 2024, Brittnee and Rob Freund, avid cyclists and parents of Olivea ’34 and Evelyn ’37, launched the FWCD Bike Bus with a simple mission: to build community, encourage healthy habits, and create a fun, sustainable way to get to school. Once regular weekend bike riders before they had children, the Freunds wanted to share their love of biking with their daughters and with the Falcon community.

Brittnee reached out to Head of Lower School Trey Blair and Assistant Head of Lower School Meredith Hudgens Cunningham ’04 to explore how to make a bike ride to school happen. With additional support from Assistant Head of School for Operations and Security Chelsy Beninate and the City of Fort Worth, the team identified a route and system that prioritized safety and joy.

It didn’t take long for the FWCD Bike Bus to catch on. What began with the Freund family grew into two families, then a few more joined to become a crowd. By winter break, it had become a regular Friday morning event. After a short hiatus during the colder months – the Freunds paused rides when the temperature dipped below 40 degrees – the Bike Bus came back strong in March. Each Friday during the school year, roughly 30 riders (15 students and 15 adults) gather to make the early-morning commute to campus on two wheels.

The movement has also attracted special guests. Middle School Art Teacher Owen Curtsinger, Middle School Spanish Teacher Bob Booth, Upper School Latin Teacher Bryan Carlson, and even Head of School Eric Lombardi have all joined the ride. For many students, Friday has become the most exciting day of the week – and the only day they’re up before their parents.

Riders meet at Overton Park at 7 a.m. with opportunities to join the ride along the route at Ranchview/Bellaire or Riverhills. And while the ride may start early, the energy is anything but sleepy.

The FWCD Bike Bus is also part of a national movement. When Brittnee was trying to get the Bike Bus off the ground, she connected with Sam Balto, Executive Director and Co-founder of Bike Bus World, to learn how to establish a local chapter. The organization’s mission is to transform the well-being of children, communities, and the climate through biking to school together, a vision that the FWCD community proudly embraces and that aligns with FWCD’s values.

The energy was palpable on Friday, May 9, when the FWCD Bike Bus served as the City of Fort Worth’s featured school for National Bike & Roll to School Day. With the support of the City of Fort Worth Transportation and Public Works Department and the Fort Worth Police Department’s Bike Patrol, the morning ride was a safe and festive celebration. More than 100 riders – triple the usual number – rolled onto campus, where they were greeted with cheers, high-fives, and a visit from Molly the Cow, the city’s mascot. Families received goodie-filled backpacks, safety information, and cookies decorated just for the occasion. But the biggest treat? The look of pride on the students’ faces as they completed the ride and parked their bikes.

The FWCD Bike Bus is more than a way to get to school — it’s a movement powered by joy, community, and the open road.