Roseway Heights school this morning.
(Photo: Anne Laufe)
Today is International Walk and Bike to School Day and 44 schools in Portland (and more than 150 throughout Oregon) will celebrate programs that encourage kids to get to school under their own power.
In Portland, the day’s festivities will be centered at Rosa Parks Elementary School. Rosa Parks is one of 25 schools in the Portland area that receive the comprehensive “Safer Routes to Schools” program (which is funded through City of Portland’s Community and Schools Traffic Safety Partnership (thanks to traffic fine revenues)).
At Rosa Parks, a select group of students are set to meet with various dignitaries (mayor-elect Sam Adams, Schools Superintendent Carole Smith, ODOT Regional Manager Jason Tell, etc…) to share their ideas and challenges about walking and biking to school.
Portland’s Safe Routes to School program is managed by the Bicycle Transportation Alliance (BTA).
In Eugene, the action will be at Roosevelt Middle School. Shane Rhodes, program manager for Eugene’s Safe Routes to Schools program, says their event will include, “bike blended smoothies, fire-juggling cyclists, music, and a special appearance by the Oregon Duck”. Rhodes add that more than 25 schools will be participating in Walk and Bike to School Day in Eugene this year (that’s up from 8 schools last year).
More information on Oregon’s Walk and Bike to School Day programs can be found at WalknBike.org.
For information on Portland’s Safe Routes to School programs, visit SafeRoutesPortland.org.