Hérault: in this town, children will soon go to school by bike bus

HAS Castelnau-de-Guers, near Pézenas, in Hérault, the school bus will soon become a little special. If many schoolchildren take the school bus to go to school, in this town of around 1,200, the children will be driven, from September, by an electric bike-bus, steered by the strength of their legs . Here is Ecol’O’Bus, a project already very advanced, designed by Yves Gruffaz. “It is currently being manufactured. All that remains is to modify the steering, install the brakes and the electrical assistance and then have it approved by the DREAL (Regional Directorate for the Environment, Planning and Housing,” specifies this passionate retired handyman. .

It was in 2014 that he discovered this concept, in the Netherlands. He then came up with the idea of ​​importing three of these bicycle buses into the national territory. This unfortunately turns out to be impossible, due to lack of approval. He then decided to build them himself and benefited at the end of 2019 from crowdfunding of 50,000 eurosawarded by the Occitanie Region, as part of the My solution for the climate system.

Children get involved

A wooden alloy chassis and convertible top, aluminum handlebars and seat posts. Yves Gruffaz took care of drawing all the plans, which were then digitized by a design office. For the manufacture of certain pieces, the retiree was able to count on the Lodevois creation workshop Opus Apus. President of the Fête des homework association, supervising children for around forty years, he wanted to make this vehicle “a fun project to make them want to go to school”. This handyman at heart then entrusted the assembly of his Écol’O’Bus to young people from the association, aged 7 to 11 years old. They learned to proudly handle wrenches and screwdrivers.

This collective bike with 8 seats, 7 passengers and a driver, has eight independent pedals, front and rear lights, indicators, and of course, brakes! A trunk can accommodate school bags and personal protective equipment, such as helmets and safety vests. Designed for primary school children, the vehicle is capable of carrying adolescents and adults. “EHPADs asked if they could use the bicycle bus to transport elderly people,” explains its designer.

Three bicycle buses in the long term

“For all the schoolchildren to be transported, three bicycle buses would be needed in circulation to make two rounds in the morning,” predicts Yves Gruffaz, who has already volunteered to drive one. The municipality should also adopt its signage for this new machine. If this budding mechanic is so keen to see his project come to fruition, it is largely for ecological considerations. “I’m trying at my level to do something to save the planet, and this means of transport is part of it. Every evening, nearly 70 cars are on the roads following school trips. We absolutely must put less polluting vehicles into service,” argues the handyman.

“I am trying at my level to do something to save the planet, and this means of transport is one of them. Every evening, nearly 70 cars are on the roads following school trips. It is absolutely necessary to put into service less polluting vehicles”

Before considering official use of the Écol’O’Bus, it must be approved by the DREAL. However, this in no way stops the retiree from thinking about the future, who confides that a second bicycle bus is under construction. An improved version of the first prototype. Ride youth!

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