Walk and Bike to School Day kicks of Safe Routes season

Mayor Potter at last year’s event.
(Photos © Jonathan Maus)

Next week over 30 elementary and middle schools in the Portland Metro area (and more than 80 statewide) will kick off the Safe Routes to School season by participating in Walk and Bike to School Day.

The event — which is celebrated worldwide — is organized by the Bicycle Transportation Alliance (BTA), the Willamette Pedestrian Coalition (WPC), the City of Portland Office of Transportation (PDOT), and a host of other agencies.

Organizers hope to beat last year’s record student participation and create excitement for the upcoming season of Safe Routes to School activities.

Sunnyside Environmental School kids
get into the spirit.

Safe Routes to School is a federally funded program that encourages kids to walk and bike to school through the Four E’s: education, engineering, enforcement and encouragement.

Each year, one school is chosen for a big event where dignitaries and politicians join kids, teachers, and parents for activities and a photo op (last year it was Sunnyside Environmental School and before that it was Abernethy Elementary).

This year, Capitol Hill Elementary School (8401 SW 17th Avenue) will host the event. Here’s a partial list of who’s scheduled to attend:

• City Commissioner Sam Adams
• State Representative Greg Macpherson
• U.S. Congressman Earl Blumenauer staff advisor Meeky Blizzard
• Internationally ranked bike racer Erik Tonkin

For more information, visit WalknBike.org or SafeRoutesPortland.org. Also check out this story in the issue of the Willamette Week.