Community

Mayor Alyia Gaskins rides along with the Brooks Bike Bus

About 50 children and their parents made the Friday morning trip to Naomi L. Brooks Elementary, organizer Stephanie Lavey said.

, and Ryan Belmore

October 23, 2026 . 8:59 AM

3 min read

Alexandria Mayor Alyia Gaskins, second from right, and Brooks Bike Bus organizer Stephanie Lavey, center, pose with two bike bus captains, left, outside Naomi L. Brooks Elementary School after the ride Friday, Oct. 23, 2026. (Ryan Belmore / The Alexandria Brief)

ALEXANDRIA, Va. — Alexandria Mayor Alyia Gaskins rode as a passenger on a bike with the Brooks Bike Bus on Friday morning, her first bike bus, as families made their way to Naomi L. Brooks Elementary School with temperatures in the 40s.

"It was incredible. I had the best time," Gaskins said in an interview with The Alexandria Brief after the ride. "It was amazing to see so many members of our community come out. I mean, we literally blocked the street with bikes, with strollers, with wagons, and it was just a really, really special experience."

Organizer Stephanie Lavey estimated "probably about 50" children rode "between the 2 lines," and "then their parents, so I think it's up to 70 or so."