October is WA Bike Month, and there was no better way to celebrate than by marking the Lathlain Bike Bus’s 2nd birthday!

To make the most of this milestone, we traded our typical Thursday/Friday schedule for a special Tuesday morning kick-off, starting a half-hour earlier at 7:30 a.m. to ensure plenty of time for the festivities.

Special Guests & Community Spirit

We were honoured to host Leanne from Cycling Without Age, a fantastic volunteer group that provides trishaw rides for people with limited mobility. Their work perfectly mirrors our own intergenerational mission: while we get the kids moving, they do the same for our seniors.

The celebration was truly a neighbourhood affair! We were joined by families from neighbouring East Victoria Park Primary School, including local MP Zaneta Mascarenhas, who arrived on her own cargo bike.

A Party on Wheels

Under a brilliant, sunny sky, our “bike muster” grew larger with every block. The usual smiles from onlookers turned into laughter and cheers this time – thanks to DJ Modern Monkey, who joined the convoy in a cargo bike, spinning tracks and keeping the energy high all the way to our destination!

The Celebration Hub: Kettle Cafe

Instead of heading straight to school, we finished our route at Kettle, our beloved local cafe. The Town of Victoria Park went above and beyond by:

• Reserving car bays specifically for bike parking.
• Providing a free bike mechanic for on-the-spot safety checks.
• Setting up a bike blender, where kids used pedal power to whip up their own healthy smoothies.

The scene at the cafe was buzzing. While some enjoyed a nutritious breakfast, others decorated the footpaths with chalk art or took turns on the Cycling Without Age trishaw – even our Principal hopped in for a test ride!

Highlight of the Morning: The arrival of Rick the Rock, the West Coast Eagles mascot! The kids were ecstatic as Rick handed out WCE gear while DJ Modern Monkey kept the tunes pumping.

Safe Travels & Final Count

When it was time to ring the school bell, traffic control staff took over, ensuring every child crossed the road safely. This gave parents a well-deserved moment to relax and finish their coffees, knowing their kids were heading to the bike racks independently and securely.

While it was hard to get a precise head-count with so many families arriving by foot and wheel, we estimate:

• 40–50 riders participated in the Bike Bus.
• Another 30–40 people joined the celebration at the cafe.

The Big Picture

It is truly inspiring to see how much community spirit can be sparked by the simple act of riding to school. This was a magnificent milestone for our Lathlain crew, and we want to give a massive shout-out to the other 10 bike buses now operating across Perth – you are all doing an incredible job!