In this reflective essay I examine the activity of a bus tour, organized as the result of an ongoing university and city partnership. I illustrate how riding the bus is not only symbolic for positionality in our society, but also how it can be a viable mechanism for initiating boundary spanning and promoting opportunities for place-based learning and future engagement. I focus on the concept of boundary spanning and the roles and domains most often associated with this activity by exploring the language and metaphors invoked in the term. Then by framing the notion of boundary spanning as an activity system, I consider how riding the bus facilitates less traditional participants' engagement. I conclude by proposing that the activity of riding the bus can inform the boundary-spanning metaphor while also serving as a mechanism to mobilize further engagement efforts.