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Dear parents, caregivers, educators, and community,
Are you ready for ? The beloved annual event is happening very soon on Thursday, Nov. 14. On this day, we celebrate Ruby Bridge’s courage by walking to school.
But what makes this simple act of walking to school so courageous? After the U.S. Supreme Court's Brown v. the Board of Education landmark ruling (1945), a federal court order (1960), passing an entrance exam, a delayed start, and two of her peers deciding to stay at their home school, Ruby braved Frantz Elementary School, an all-white school, on her own.
Today, we're inviting students and families across Portland to join us and walk to school this Thursday just like Ruby did 64 years ago.
Remember to follow us on Instagram and Facebook, and tag us in your Ruby Bridges Walk to School Day stories so we can re-share them!
With gratitude,
Safe Routes to School Team | Brittany, Dana, Gui, Janis, Jeri, Josh, and Meaghan
In this email
More than a dozen adults gather together for a photo at the Safe Routes to School National Conference.
Safe Routes to School staff Gui Fonseca, Janis McDonald, and Jeri Stroupe recently returned from Fort Collins, Colorado where they participated in the Safe Routes to School National Conference. Our staff presented on our work with high school students, Transportation Academy, as well as how to "stretch the dollar" and strategically use limited funding to maximize walk, bike, and roll infrastructure investments at and near school communities.
Safe Routes to School staff, Jeri Stroupe, stretches her arms in front of a "Greetings from Fort Collins, Colorado" mural.
Jeri Stroupe, Safe Routes to School Infrastructure Coordinator, shared that she "enjoyed getting to know Safe Routes to School practitioners from across the country and exchanging ideas on everything from program structure to project prioritization."
The Safe Routes to School team is eager to collectively incorporate learnings from the conference into our daily work to support Portland families.
A dozen adults and elementary school students wait on a neighborhood street to start biking to school.
Last month, Safe Routes to School joined Vestal Elementary School, one of many schools participating in International Walk + Roll to School Day.
Three elementary school students on round the corner on their bikes as two pedestrians watch from the sidewalk.
One perk of joining the ride into school was being able to see students and families take advantage of the recently completed NE Glisan Street and 80th Avenue Crossing Improvements project.
About ten adults and children ride bikes across an intersection with a new crossing median.
This project makes it easier for pedestrians to cross one of the major commercial streets in the Montavilla neighborhood, as well as making people biking feel safer.
About a dozen adults and children bike and scoot down a neighborhood street on their way to school.
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.
A group of adults and elementary school students walk across a crosswalk in front of a school in the fall.
Ruby Bridges Walk to School Day
Thursday, Nov. 14
Ruby Bridges Walk to School Day honors the living legacy of the civil rights activist who, in 1960 (at just 6 years old!), etched her name in history when she walked to school and integrated all-white William Frantz Elementary School in New Orleans. Since then, Ruby has become a national icon for her courageous act. The goal of Ruby Bridges Walk to School Day is to inspire kids to make positive changes in their school and community.
World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims
Sunday, Nov. 17
Each year, the World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims honors those who have been killed and injured on roads around the globe—1.35 million people each year worldwide. Families for Safe Streets together with BikeLoud, Oregon Walks, Portland Bureau of Transportation, elected leaders, and members of the community will gather to honor those who have been violently killed in road traffic on Sunday, Nov. 17 at 11:00 a.m. at Portland City Hall (1221 SW 4th Ave.).
Better Bike Advocacy Workshop: Fun and Effective Community Engagement Strategies
Monday, Nov. 18
Winter Walk + Roll to School Day
Wednesday, February 5
Put on your snow or rain boots and walk or roll to school while enjoying winter time in Portland. On Wednesday, Feb. 5, schools across Portland and the state are celebrating Winter Walk + Roll to School Day! This annual tradition is just one fantastic opportunity for the local school community to come together, building connections, and celebrate getting to school in a fun and sustainable way.
Project Yellow Light high school and college scholarship competition
Due by March 1 (billboard) and April 1 (video and radio)
People know distracted driving is dangerous, but they do it anyway. As a Project Yellow Light applicant you have one clear mission: create a public service announcement to encourage your friends to avoid distracted driving, specifically using your phone while driving. Whether it’s sending a text, commenting on a photo, or messaging your friends in your favorite app, it’s never ok to drive distracted. Together, we can spread the word and help keep our roads safer. Scholarships range from $2,000 to $8,000.
Metro Regional Travel Options small grants
Applications can be submitted anytime and are reviewed on a rolling basis
Metro Regional Travel Options (RTO) small grants fund specific, one-time purchases of materials and services to support events, education, and outreach activities ranging from $500 (Safe Routes to School micro-grants) to $5,000 (RTO mini-grants).
A new sidewalk and crosswalk at NE 115th Avenue in the Parkrose neighborhood as fall leaves speckle the ground.
New school year, new sidewalks
Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) recently completed the NE Shaver Sidewalk: NE 115th to Parkrose Middle School project in October. PBOT and staff worked with the school community, a hired contractor, and Portland Parks & Recreation's Urban Forestry to bring improved pedestrian infrastructure to the Parkrose community, including:
- A new 6-foot wide sidewalk on the south side of NE Shaver Street
- Seven new ADA-compliant curb ramps
- One new marked crosswalk
- A 4-foot wide planting strip to sperate people walking from the roadway
- 10 new street trees
Where did the idea for this project start?
PBOT identified this segment of NE Shaver Street as an important connection for students attending Parkrose Middle School. Walking routes and challenging connections were highlighted by school communities during a Safe Routes to School outreach process.
Roots and routes: growing a new path
To construct this sidewalk, the contractor needed to remove 13 trees—12 of which were in the public right-of-way and the path of the sidewalk. One tree was located on private property but due to its proximity to the sidewalk construction, was expected not to survive.
Just like all capital improvement projects, PBOT worked with Urban Forestry to identify which tree species to plant, how many, and also paid a local Tree Planting and Preservation Fund mitigation fee. When there is limited space in a project area to replant the number of trees removed, Urban Forestry charges mitigation fees to help plant additional trees within the same watershed.
How did PBOT fund this project?
Fixing Our Streets, Portland's voter-approved 10-cent gas tax and heavy vehicle use tax, funded this project. PBOT allocated a proportion of the funding to improve how Portland families access schools.
An illuminated yellow crosswalk sign in the center median of a two-way street at night.
We all have a responsibility to help make our streets safe
Remember to use caution and understand that the season brings with it a higher risk of traffic deaths on our streets as many people are heading to and from home before sunrise and after sunset.
Pedestrian crashes rise dramatically from summer to winter, as the days grow shorter. In a recent 10 year-period, Portland's average traffic crashes per month involving pedestrians ranged from a low of 14.5 in July to a high of 28 in December.
Both pedestrians and drivers often overestimate nighttime visibility
A variety of hazards are built into cars that make it more difficult for drivers to see. So, drivers need to take extra care at night, since the impact of fast-moving, heavy steel vehicles can kill or seriously injure people who are walking or biking.
Built-in obstacles that make it harder for drivers to see include:
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The A-pillar. The post that supports the windshield in most cars and separates it from side windows creates a blind spot, blocking the view of pedestrians and other vehicles at intersections.
- A wet windshield, rain and glare from other vehicles can obscure vision.
- Dark areas with little or no lighting make it harder to see other travelers.
If you're dressed in dark clothing at night, use extra caution while walking or biking
Understand that drivers' ability to see you is limited by rain, glare and blind spots built into cars.
- Stay alert and avoid distractions, like looking at your phone. In dark areas, try using your phone as a flashlight to make yourself more visible to people passing in vehicles.
- Dress as visibly as possible when traveling outside of a motor vehicle. If you do choose to wear dark clothing, take care to look both ways when crossing the street and assume drivers may not see you.
A vertical, white traffic safety camera has multiple flash bulbs and lenses and is in front of tree foliage.
Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) and Portland Police Bureau (PPB) are teaming up to ask Portlanders (ages 18+) how they feel about traffic safety and traffic safety cameras. Feedback from will help the city better meet community needs and expectations. The survey takes just a few minutes to respond, is available in multiple languages, and all responses are anonymous.
Survey feedback will help us work towards Vision Zero, Portland’s goal to eliminate traffic deaths and serious injuries on our streets. PBOT and PPB operate safety cameras at and along the highest-crash streets and intersections across the city. These cameras, along with infrastructure and education, play a critical part to help enforce safe driving behaviors.
A yellow forklift picks up a large pile of golden, dried, leaves on a neighborhood street.
The Portland Bureau of Transportation’s (PBOT) Leaf Day service sweeps 53 districts with the highest concentration of mature street trees and leaves—about a third of the city. Leaf removal in Leaf Day districts is free. Find out if you’re in a district and what your Leaf Day schedule is this year.
What is Leaf Day?
From November to December each year, PBOT’s Leaf Day service helps us provide cleaner, safer streets, keep our storm drains clear, and ensure our intersections don’t flood. PBOT created Leaf Day because the amount of leaves in our 53 Leaf Districts was simply too much for our regular street cleaning equipment.
Leaf Day pickup is free for residents in Leaf Districts. There is no need to opt in or out.
Look up your address, view a map of Leaf Districts
Everyone in a Leaf District should receive a brochure in the mail letting you know your pickup district number and schedule, as well as directions on how to make the most of your Leaf Day.
Check out the Leaf day schedules by district and neighborhood today. Not sure if you're in a Leaf District? Look up your home or business address and find out online.
- Pasadena's happiest crossing guard spreads joy through dancing, daily interactions (KCAL News)
- Wider streets are more dangerous for pedestrians to cross (Smart Cities Dive)
- Walking billboards promote pedestrian safety (WFAA)
- Do bike lanes really cause more traffic congestion? Here's what the research says (CBC)
- There is no technology fix for car bloat (Slate)
- Road to Zero Coalition says bigger, heavier vehicles contributing to more traffic fatalities (Repairer Driven News)
- Why America has so much road safety research, but so little actual safety (Streetsblog)
- Can $1.55 billion make Seattle streets safer? (Seattle Times)
- Why widening highways doesn’t reduce traffic congestion (Yale Climate Connections)
- Report: Confronting car dependence won’t just help with climate change; it’s a $6.2 trillion opportunity (Streetsblog)
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Portland Children's Levy Allocation Committee: The Portland Children’s Levy (PCL) is a property tax that generates about $23 million annually to support children and their families. The PCL Allocation Committee makes funding recommendations, reviews performance of funded programs, and advises PCL staff on policy decisions related to funding and monitoring grants. Closing Nov. 17. Volunteer posting here.
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Private For-Hire Transportation Advisory Committee: The Private For-Hire Transportation Advisory Committee provides input into the development and outcomes of policies, budget, regulations, and procedures that affect the city's Private For-Hire Transportation program. If you want to serve your community and help the city make better choices, then we want to see your application. Closing Dec. 1. Volunteer posting here.
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Transportation Network Company Driver Advisory Committee: The Transportation Network Company Driver Advisory Committee provides input into the development and outcomes of policies, budget, regulations, and procedures that affect the city's Private For-Hire Transportation program and Transportation Network Company companies and drivers. If you want to serve your community and help the city make better choices, then we want to see your application. Closing Dec. 1. Volunteer posting here.
- Portland Clean Energy Fund Community Benefits Fund Committee: Are you looking for a space where your passion, knowledge, and skills will contribute to a more just society? Do you envision your city as one that advances racial justice and leads with equity to provide a clean energy future for frontline communities? The Portland Clean Energy Community Benefits Fund Committee is seeking leaders like you. Closing Dec. 31. Volunteer 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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