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Dear parents, caregivers, educators, and community,
Perfectly timed in the weeks before school starts, parent volunteers are leading an Ice Cream Bike Bus Pedalpalooza ride to "celebrate kids, bikes, and a healthier, safer, sustainable, and way more fun model of" getting to school. How fun! We encourage you to join them on Wednesday, Aug. 21 at 4 p.m. for a kid-paced ride down and back up the gentle slopes of Southeast Portland. This ride will stop at meet-up points along the way— including Glencoe Elementary School, Richmond Elementary School, and Abernethy Elementary School—just like a bike bus. This is a great opportunity to enjoy a free scoop of ice cream, make new friends, and learn more about how to start a bike bus at your school!
Remember to follow us on Instagram and Facebook! Tag us in your posts and stories so we can easily re-share them.
With gratitude,
Safe Routes to School Team | Brittany, Dana, Gui, Janis, Jason, Jeri, Josh, Matthew, and Meaghan
In this email
An adult and a child ride a tandem bike together on top of grass and golden-colored fallen leaves in a park.
Guest contributor: Roger Geller, Portland Bureau of Transportation Bicycle Coordinator
If you’re like me, you know that kids watch everything we do as parents. They observe all of our actions—from our ordinary conversations to our day-to-day routines. We, consciously or not, tell them how to live, what is right and wrong, and how to respond to challenges. And, as parents, we also watch our kids to know if they’re happy and thriving. We take those observations and use them to consider how to meet our children’s unique needs. We do all this because we know how important it is for us as parents to be champions for our kid’s futures. We want to provide them the tools they’ll need to navigate a rapidly changing world. One simple, brilliant, and almost magical way we can serve as a role model is by riding a bike.
An adult and a child face away, walking with their bikes, with dozens of other bikes parked in the background.
A simple yet profound tool
A bike is a tool that is easy to use yet profound in its effect. Riding a bike for our daily needs benefits us as individuals by giving us an easy outlet for exercise, time outdoors, and a cheap option for travel. It also benefits the community where we live by providing more "eyes on the street," easing traffic congestion, and reducing air pollution. The bike also offers solutions to many of the challenges we face in our changing world.
A former colleague once called the bicycle a “silver bullet” for its ability to address both personal and societal challenges. That was in the days before the effects of a rapidly changing climate made the news on a regular basis—news to which our children are increasingly paying attention. Bicycling is a tool for good health, for keeping more money in our pockets, and for a good quality of life. Perhaps most importantly for our kids, it’s fun and something families can do together! And it’s one direct thing we can tell our kids we’re doing to combat climate change to give them a little more reassurance.
As an uncle to elementary school-aged children, I am both impressed with their knowledge of current political and urban issues and alarmed at the concern they express about their futures and the future of the earth because of climate change. They know what’s going on. Now that my children are adults, it’s rewarding to see them regularly opting to use their bicycles to get around. The seed of that use was planted when they were very young!
Two adults and two children stand together, smiling, with bike helmets on.
Take advantage of Portland's bicycle network!
Living here in Portland, we have some of the best bicycling infrastructure in the county. We have neighborhood greenways connecting communities across the city, off-street paths, and protected bicycle lanes, like the one on SW Capitol Highway that makes bike travel from Portland Community College Sylvania to downtown continuous and safe. Decades of such investments grants us a unique opportunity (among American cities) to demonstrate to our kids that choosing to bike is not only possible, but also a great way to counter the 40% of greenhouse gases that come from transportation.
Start small and make it a habit
It doesn’t have to be every trip. You don’t have to get rid of your car. Start small and slowly build a habit. The more you can leave your car behind and use a bicycle, and the more your kids see you do it, and the more you do it with your kids, the more you demonstrate that there are things we can personally do that have a measurable impact on reducing greenhouse gas emissions. And that it’s fun, improves health, makes our communities cleaner and neighborhoods quieter, is just the cherry on top!
Seven high school-aged youth gather in a parking lot facing an adult instructor, all with bikes.
School may be out but that doesn't mean our Safe Routes to School team stops delivering excellent walk, bike, and roll education to Portland's youth during these summer months!
Supporting Division-Midway Alliance youth transportation experts
We are supporting Division-Midway Alliance, a place-based nonprofit creating social resiliency and economic prosperity for residents and businesses in Southeast Portland, with their program that helps ten youth from different language backgrounds become transportation experts so that they can then teach members of their communities in their primary languages. Safe Routes to School led a workshop on bike safety and route planning that included a community ride, a transit workshop, and a transit field trip.
Preparing incoming Parkrose 9th graders for high school
We're continuing our partnership with Elevate Oregon—a local organization that builds relationships with youth to promote education, self-reliance, and achievement—by leading bike and transit workshops, rides, and trips for a small group of incoming ninth graders to prepare them for their transition to Parkrose High School.
Bike safety classes for incoming middle school students
Safe Routes to School led a four-session bike safety class for 16 incoming sixth graders at Ron Russell Middle School and Alice Ott Middle School culminating in a community ride. This was part of summer Schools Uniting Neighborhoods (SUN) Community School programming. We provided bilingual instruction as about 50% of the class were English language learners who spoke Spanish as their primary language.
Elementary students learning to ride without training wheels
We led a four-session class for 14 students entering grades 1-4 at Shaver Elementary School and Prescott Elementary School on pedestrian safety, with some bike and scooter safety components. We were especially proud of two students, an immigrant sibling pair from Somalia, who learned to ride a pedal bike without training wheels for the first time. This was also part of summer SUN Community School programming.
A colorful graphic showing different transportation options and text, "Welcome Back to School, Portland!"
We're a few weeks away from Back to School, and we can nearly hear the drumroll just thinking about it! Amid all the chaos of registration, gathering supplies, and figuring out first-day-of-school outfits, we want to make sure you don't forget about how you'll get there. Below is a collection of resources for students and families to plan their trip to school and get there safely.
Build strong walking, biking, and rolling habits
Summer is also a great time to help students build habits that will set them up for success once the start of the school year arrives. And walking, biking, and rolling to free summer events, like Pedalpalooza BIKE SUMMER, is an easy way to do just that. This unique-to-Portland festival is made up of hundreds of different bike events that are organized by people just like you. Below are a few family-friendly rides we found on the online calendar that we can't wait to join.
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Smokey Bear birthday ride: Aug. 9 at 6:30 p.m., The Bear Block on Green Loop (409 NE 8th Ave.)
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Full access with Bridge City Montessori School: Aug. 10 at 10 a.m., Bridge City Montessori School (4530 SE 67th Ave.)
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Juice box ride: Aug. 11 at 10 a.m., Eastbank Esplanade and SE Salmon Street
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Bureau of silly bikes: Aug. 16 at 5:30 p.m., Abernethy Elementary School (SE Birch Street and Elliot Avenue)
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Splish, splash it's a wet, wet, Portland ride: Aug. 17 at 1 p.m., Jamison Square (NW Johnson Street and 11th Avenue)
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Ice cream bike bus redux: Aug. 21 at 4 p.m.; Glencoe Elementary School, Richmond Elementary School, and Abernethy Elementary School; end location Fifty Licks (2021 SE Clinton Street)
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Rainbow ride: Aug. 24 at 6:30 p.m., Colonel Summers Park (SE Belmont Street and 20th Avenue)
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Ice cream & donuts for back-to-school (Kidical Mass): Aug. 25 at 2 p.m., Irving Park Playground (3149 NE 9th Ave.)
Dozens of adults and children ride bikes on a downtown Portland street on a sunny day.
Try out your route
Safe Routes to School suggests that students and families try their route before school starts—especially if you're going to a new location. Try different routes and compare what feels best and most comfortable. Walking, biking, taking transit, and carpooling all help increase safety and reduce traffic and greenhouse gas emissions around schools. If you haven't already planned it all out, check out these resources:
And you've heard it before: practice makes perfect. While we know perfect is unrealistic, we can guarantee that practice will make your back-to-school commute a more smooth and enjoyable experience for everyone.
Six high school-aged youth prepare to enter a blue and orange TriMet MAX train.
High schoolers: Remember to get your TriMet Free Summer Pass!
We encourage rising 9th graders and high school students sign-up for TriMet's Free Summer Pass. The passes are valid for unlimited rides on buses, MAX, Westside Express Service commuter rail, and Portland Streetcar. Passes are valid from June 1 through Aug. 31. (Portland Public Schools student ID Hop passes do not work in the summer months.)
More tips and resources
A concept design of crossing safety improvements at the intersection of NE 80th Avenue and NE Glisan Street.
Portland Bureau of Transportation's NE Glisan Street and 80th Avenue Crossing Improvements project will bring pedestrian safety improvements to the Montavilla neighborhood near Vestal Elementary School, including:
- High visibility crosswalks
- Curb extensions with ADA curb ramp improvements
- Pedestrian refuge islands
The project is currently in design and construction is expected to start in August with some elements completed by the time school starts in September.
Additional crossing improvements are expected at NE Davis Street and 82nd Avenue as part of the 82nd Avenue Critical Fixes: Glisan and Davis Signal Improvements project, which is set to start construction as early as 2025.
This project is mostly funded by the Oregon Department of Transportation Rapid Response Construction Grant with supplemental funding through the City of Portland cannabis tax.
"New to Portland Ride ~ Southwest, Thursday, August 22, 2024, 5:15-7:30 p.m." text over a map of Portland.
Are you new to Portland or new to riding a bicycle here? Join Portland Bureau of Transportation for a summer evening bike ride to explore ways to get around by bicycle in Southwest Portland neighborhoods! We'll check out some bike paths and low-traffic streets, as well as ride through several parks. The ride will end at a food place 1-mile east from the start.
When: Thursday, August 22 from 5:15 - 7:30 p.m.
Where: Gabriel Park (SW 37 Avenue and Texas Street)
This is a 6.5-mile mellow pace, no-drop ride. Note that the terrain is hilly, so there will be some climbing. Make sure your brakes and gears are working properly as you'll be using them often!
Hundreds of adults and children walk, bike, and roll along a gentle sloping street lined with pop-up tents on a sunny day.
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Southwest Neighborhood Bike Fair, Sept. 13
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Southwest Portland Sunday Parkways (World Car-Free Day), Sept. 22
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International Walk + Roll to School Day, Oct. 9
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Safe Routes to School National Conference (Fort Collins, CO), Oct. 22-24
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Ruby Bridges Walk to School Day, Nov. 14
- Safe Routes to School aims to make getting to class an enjoyable experience for Oregon students (Oregon Public Broadcasting)
- Friday video: How Ghent gets kids to school without cars (Streetsblog USA)
- Chicago’s unique bike giveaway program is a win for mobility justice (Next City)
- Viet Nam’s new road safety laws to reduce road traffic deaths among children (World Health Organization)
- Drive ethically: On the morality of speeding (McGrath Institute for Church Life Journal)
- Federal dollars speed up work on safe streets, but money isn’t the only roadblock (NPR)
- Not quite a street, not quite a road – why ‘stroads’ are disasters of urban planning, and how to fix them (The Conversation)
- A little-recognized public health crisis (KFF Health News)
- National Transportation Safety Board chief warns that people underestimate marijuana's impact on drivers (WUSF)
- Did you know?: Anti-speeding tech ok with most drivers, study finds (AOL.com)
- Austria to ‘super-speeders’: We’re taking your car (Bloomberg CityLab)
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Bicycle Advisory Committee: Portland's Bicycle Advisory Committee convenes monthly to advise City Council and all departments of the city on all matters relating to the use of the bicycle as a means of transportation and recreation. The body is a perpetual committee. The committee is comprised of individuals with interest in advising the city on matters related to bicycle transportation. Closing Sunday, Aug. 18. Volunteer posting here.
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Parking Code Enforcement Officer: Parking Code Enforcement Officers patrol assigned areas independently on foot, bicycle, or in a vehicle to ensure compliance with City Parking Codes. An ideal candidate may not have experience with parking enforcement but will have exemplary communication and customer service skills, ability to walk 10 miles per day and learn parking codes and regulations, and work varied shifts in all weather conditions. Closing Monday, Aug. 19 or when 300 applicants have been received. Job posting here.
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Electronics Technician II-Traffic Signal: The Portland Bureau of Transportation is seeking an Electronics Technician II-Traffic Signal within the Traffic Signals, Street Lighting & Intelligent Transportations Systems (ITS) division. This division specifically plans, designs, builds, and maintains the city's traffic signals, street lighting systems, and ITS systems throughout the city. Closing Monday, Sept. 9. Job posting here.
The City of Portland updates it's job opportunities list weekly. Make sure to check out those new positions every Monday!
Contact us
SafeRoutes@portlandoregon.gov
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