 A Jason Lee walking school bus getting ready to head to school.
Fresh air and extra exercise in your child's day are great reasons to add in a walk, bike, or roll to school, but what other benefits are there? Here's a few you may not have thought about:
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Reduced Student Absences and Tardiness
Lack of transportation can be a barrier to getting to school on time or at all; walking or biking to school with a group or having the ability to do it alone has been shown to decrease the number of absences for some students.
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Reduced Traffic Congestion
Boosting the number of students walking and rolling helps to reduce neighborhood auto traffic and improve crowded conditions during pick-up and drop-off.
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Clean Air and Fewer Asthma Attacks
Children exposed to traffic pollution are more likely to have asthma, permanent lung deficits, and a higher risk of heart and lung problems as adults. Walking and rolling to school helps improve air quality by reducing the number of vehicle trips to campus.
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Community Building
Walking with friends and neighbors is a great way to start the day, and helps create community connections.
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Improved Academic Performance
Morning activity increases brain activity, so walking or rolling to school helps students arrive at school energized and ready to learn.
 Walk + Roll to School Day is a great way to introduce families at your school to these benefits in an approachable way. Still need to register for Walk + Roll to School Day on October 10? Follow these steps:
1) Register your school at walknbike.org (If your school has already registered, contact the organizer to see if there are ways you can help!)
2) Once you register, order fun prizes like stickers, keychains, and more to pass out to students
3) Celebrate on Wednesday, October 10, or another date that works for your school. This can mean passing out prizes, organizing a Walking School Bus or Bike Train, holding a raffle, hula hooping on the blacktop, and more! Do whatever works best for your schedule.
4) Have questions? Contact our team at saferoutes@portlandoregon.gov.
**Benefits of walking + rolling to school found on the Safe Routes National Partnership website**
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Safe Routes to School contracts The Street Trust to teach bike safety education at a limited number of Title I schools in Portland. Their instructors are looking for volunteers to ride along with kids on community bike rides. The days prior to community rides are spent learning and practicing safe bike handling skills. On the last day, students celebrate their hard work by riding their bikes in the neighborhood.
This is where you come in!
We need volunteers who will ride with students, encouraging them and making sure they are safe.
- The Street Trust could use 2-3 volunteers per ride since there are generally 30-35 students in each class. You can volunteer for one ride or the whole day, whichever works for you.
- We also have opportunities to work on our fleet of bikes used in bike safety education classes. Share your mechanic skills on a weeknight or weekend to help keep our fleet rolling!
If you are interested, please email or call Jordan Bailey (503-226-0676 x13) to let him know how you would like to get involved. You can find the schedule of October community ride opportunities and information on our website.
 Learning new bike skills + friends = lots of smiles!
Reporting safety concerns on our city's streets and sidewalks helps keep everyone moving. Use the following links and numbers to send information directly to city staff charged with maintaining our spaces and places.
Reporting non-emergency issues
Could include abandoned autos, potholes needing repair, streetlights that aren't working, or trees and bushes blocking visibility
Use this link to connect to a variety of departments within the city.
Reporting immediate maintenance and repair needs
For maintenance issues such as a major traffic signal outage
Call the Bureau of Transportation's 24-hour maintenance hotline: 503-823-1700.
Reporting traffic safety concerns
Includes speeding, pedestrian or bicycling safety issues, or school-specific requests. For school issues, involving your principal when making the report will help expedite the process as they will need to be engaged should engineering changes need to happen.
Call: 503-823-SAFE (7233) I Online form
Reporting neighborhood concerns on-the-go
PDX Reporter is a web-based application where you can report a variety of issues, including graffiti, sidewalk trip hazards, campsites, or park maintenance. Take a picture with your smartphone and report while you're out and about.
 PBOT Maintenance crews help keep Portland moving.
 Our Safe Routes team is small but mighty! Each staff member plays a special role. Get to know us a little better with these short, friendly introductions to our team.
What is your favorite way to get around Portland?
I love that I can get around by different modes - biking, walking, running, and TriMet.
In one or two sentences, share what your role is on the Safe Routes team.
My official role is to work with school districts around Safe Routes. My unofficial title is "Mama Bird," because I make sure my teammates have what they need to be successful.
What is your favorite Safe Routes "E"?
Education because we are giving kids the skills to be lifelong transportation users.
What is your vision for the future of Portland transportation?
I would love for everyone of all ages to be able to safely get around Portland by walking or rolling.
Favorite thing to do on a weekend:
I love exploring our nearby waterways in my kayak.
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Oct. 10: Walk + Roll to School Day
Celebrate students being active on the way to school by joining schools around Oregon, the United States, and internationally. Register your school at walknbike.org for free, fun prizes to pass out to participants.
Oct. 20: Kidical Mass PDX rides to Apple Tasting at Portland Nursery
Ride to the Apple Tasting Festival at Portland Nursery! In addition to apple and pear tasting, there are lots of kid-friendly activities like face painting, a scavenger hunt and games. Meet at Sewallcrest Park at 11:00 AM. This is a one-way ride.
Oct. 27: Halloween Fun at the Portland Aerial Tram
You can wear your witch's hat but leave the broomstick at home and let the Tram fly for you. There will be frightful and delightful family activities, including face painting and Halloween arts and crafts for kids. 11:00 AM - 3:00 PM
 You never know who might be riding on Portland's Aerial Tram!
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