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Welcome back to school, Portland! Families can build rewarding, healthy, climate-friendly habits by choosing to walk, bike, or roll to school. Safe Routes to School offers resources for students and families to walk, bike, and roll to school.
Back-to-school season is here, and streets all over Portland are busier. With thousands of students walking, biking, rolling, and riding transit to school, slow down and travel with extra care.
Everyone plays a part in kids traveling to and from school safely
People driving should exercise caution, regardless of whether they’re near a school or not. There are more than 120 elementary, middle, and high schools in Portland. On average, people moving about the city pass a school or a route commonly used by schoolchildren every half mile.
Build healthy, climate-friendly habits
Build healthy, climate-friendly habits by choosing to walk, bike, or roll to school. Opting to walk, bike, or roll helps reduce harmful chemicals, gases and particle pollution around schools and promotes clean air. Walking, rolling, and riding around the city are great ways to care for each other and our climate.
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Students, parents, and caregivers participating in Maplewood Elementary School's bike bus take a group photo. A bike bus is a variation of the walking school bus where families bike a route together and “pick up” passengers on their way to school.
Walk, bike, and roll to school together
Traveling together allows families to enjoy meaningful time with one another while building connections within their school community. Morning activity increases brain function, so walking, biking, or rolling to school helps students arrive at school energized and ready to learn.
- Join or organize a walking school bus or bike bus where families walk or bike a route together and “pick up” passengers on their way to school. Over 25 schools in Portland already have a bike bus, with more being established all the time. Visit bikebuspdx.org to learn if your school already has a bike bus.
- Parents and caregivers who typically drive their children to school can avoid the school traffic jam by trying a park-and-walk—parking a couple blocks away from school and then walking or rolling into class from there.
- Talk with kids about how to cross streets safely.
- Follow traffic signage near school.
Getting in a healthy routine now will have students primed for International Walk + Roll to School Day on Wednesday, October 8, and Ruby Bridges Walk to School Day on Friday, November 14.
International Walk+Roll to School Day is coming on Wednesday, October 8. Fall is a great time to practice your walk or roll route to school and check out the great fall colors.
Celebrate International Walk+Roll to School Day on Wednesday, October 8! The Oregon Department of Transportation Safe Routes to School program encourages schools to plan events to promote walking and rolling during the month of October. To help guide your event planning, please download this toolkit for activities, social media templates, posters and graphics, and more resources. Join the Facebook group to share ideas and successes with other school champions from across Oregon.
Order incentives
Order ahead of time to make sure you have incentives ready for International Walk+Roll to School Day! Incentives include stickers, reflective shoelaces, pencils, comics, bookmarks, activity sheets, and coloring books.
Portland Public Schools
If you are ordering for Portland Public Schools (PPS), please email Maddy Cirineo, PPS Safe Routes to School Coordinator, to request an order form. Submit your PPS orders by Wednesday, September 24. This form has already been provided to all principals and PTA leaders.
Centennial School District
If you are ordering for Centennial School District (CSD), please email Ian Rees, CSD Safe Routes to School Coordinator by Wednesday, October 1.
David Douglas, Parkrose, and Reynolds school districts
If you are ordering for David Douglas, Parkrose, or Reynolds school districts, order incentives by Wednesday, October 1. (Try this alternative order form if the previous link doesn't work!)
PBOT crews installed a “bike bus” signage along a neighborhood greenway near Vestal Elementary School in the Montavilla neighborhood. The Bike Bus Wayfinding Pilot Project signage and pavement markings will educate communities about bike buses, how to travel on neighborhood greenways, and safe driving. Photo by PBOT.
Portland Bureau of Transportation's (PBOT) is partnering with Bike Bus PDX leaders to support bike buses and help make biking to school safer. PBOT's Safe Routes to School program received a Metro Regional Travel Options grant to make bike bus routes at nine elementary schools within Portland Public Schools more visible. The Bike Bus Wayfinding Pilot Project signage and pavement markings will educate communities about bike buses, how to travel on neighborhood greenways, and safe driving. The goal of the pilot is to help students and families feel safer and more confident biking to school.
Last month, PBOT crews started installing signs and pavement markings on neighborhood greenways that overlap with bike bus routes!
PBOT crews installed “bike bus” pavement signage on a neighborhood greenway near Vestal Elementary School in the Montavilla neighborhood. The Bike Bus Wayfinding Pilot Project signage and pavement markings will educate communities about bike buses, how to travel on neighborhood greenways, and safe driving. Photo by PBOT.
Project elements
- Bilingual lawn signs for schools to place along bike bus routes
- Bilingual bike signs with safety messages for bike bus leaders
- Signage and pavement markings on neighborhood greenways that overlap with bike bus routes (piloting at five schools)
- Messaging and Safe Routes to School staff support
- Evaluation through traffic counts and school community surveys
Bike bus leaders will place bike bus yard signs along their routes. The Bike Bus Wayfinding Pilot Project signage and pavement markings will educate communities about bike buses, how to travel on neighborhood greenways, and safe driving. Photo by PBOT.
Pilot schools
Safe Routes to School is partnering with the following schools on the Bike Bus Wayfinding Pilot Project: Alameda, Abernethy, Creston, Glencoe, James John, Maplewood, Vestal, Woodstock elementary schools and Vernon K-8 School.
Metro's Regional Travel Options program funds projects and programs to educate, encourage, and reduce barriers to increase the use of travel options.
PBOT will paint curbs adjacent to schools yellow to increase awareness and create visibility around the intersection. Bilingual educational lawn signs will accompany the yellow curbs to help inform school and local community members about the change.
A PBOT safety initiative is expanding near schools, along neighborhood greenways, and in pedestrian districts to improve visibility and reduce crashes. Vision clearance, or "daylighting," is a safety measure that sets back parking 20 feet near intersections and crossings. As part of this effort, over 200 intersections and crossings will be updated thanks to funding from Fixing Our Streets—Portland's voter-approved 10-cent gas tax for fixing city streets and making them safer for all—and a one-time investment in 2024 from the city’s General Fund.
Yellow curbs, bilingual educational lawn signs
PBOT will paint curbs adjacent to schools yellow to increase awareness and create visibility around the intersection. In areas where there are no curbs PBOT will install “no parking” signs. Bilingual educational lawn signs will accompany the yellow curbs to help inform school and local community members about the change. The current funding allows PBOT to complete this work at a small number of schools across the city. PBOT’s goal is to eventually apply these changes to all schools citywide, but is only able to support these locations at this time due to limited funding.
We're interested in sharing stories about the amazing work that everyday folks in Portland do to make our community better. Amy Higgs is one of those people helping kids and their families walk, bike, and roll to and from school safely!
Amy is the Executive Director of Eco-School Network, a community of Oregon parents, teachers, and students making their K-8 schools healthier, greener, and more resilient. Twelve years ago, she became an Eco-School Network parent volunteer, where she was motivated by an inspiring community to make change. Now she gets to care for that community each day!
Continue reading to learn more about Amy.
Amy Higgs is the Executive Director of the Eco-School Network and a longtime walk, bike, roll parent champion and advocate. The Eco-School Network is an organization of students, parents, teachers, and school staff promoting sustainable practices and raising ecological awareness in elementary schools in Oregon.
Question: Why did you get started helping kids and their families walk, bike, and roll to and from school?
Answer: When my kids, now 18 and 21, were little, they went to The Emerson School, a small charter in downtown Portland. Families loved the school, transportation was a real hurdle, especially for families juggling longer commutes, more traffic, and more systemic barriers.
With support from Eco-School Network’s Changemaker Training, other parents and I collaborated on solutions like a safer intersections, carpool signs-ups, walking school buses, bike buses, and “TriMet Trekkers”—group trips on public transit. Families started walking, rolling, and connecting in new ways, with kids arriving to school more energized. It showed us that small steps can make a difference.
The support I found in Eco-School Network kept me at it, first as a volunteer, now as Executive Director. Today, I love supporting K–8 students, parents, and teachers across Oregon who make their schools greener and healthier. They design their own solutions, from safer walking and biking to gardens, waste reduction, and climate action.
Amy Higgs, dressed as a "bike fairy," hands out prizes to children at a Walk+Roll event. The Safe Routes to School tradition rewards students by leaving small surprises on their bikes, scooters, and skateboards to encourage riding to school.
Q: What is one bit of wisdom for people who want to do something like what you're doing?
A: Sometimes the families most affected by transportation challenges can't show up to planning meetings. Making sure their voices are heard, whether through informal conversations or flexible ways to participate, makes the work stronger. And if we can make the gatherings fun, offer food and social connection at the same time, that’s even better! Some of my favorite memories involved walking school buses with popsicles, bubbles, boom boxes, and great conversations.
Q: What is something you've learned while doing this work?
A: I felt urgency for climate action at first, and hoped that everyone would participate in active transportation to school. But when parents apologized to me for driving, I realized I’d unintentionally made them feel judged. Getting kids to school is deeply personal, shaped by distance, work, physical ability, and more. I found that offering support, encouragement, and easy, fun options creates inclusion and helps families make sustainable choices.
Amy Higgs helps a walking school bus of elementary school kids make their way across a crosswalk with help from hula hoops and jump ropes. A walking school bus is a group of families who walk a route together and “pick up” passengers on their way to school.
Q: What keeps you motivated?
A: The parents and kids in the Eco-School Network keep me going. They care deeply and make meaningful things happen in their schools, often in the face of real barriers. Coming together with this community to share ideas, celebrate wins, and lift each other up turns what can feel overwhelming into something joyful and doable.
Q: What’s one thing you’d like people to better understand about your work?
A: That small actions at schools can ripple outward. A single walking school bus, a bike bus, or a no-idling campaign might look simple, but these efforts shift habits, shape values, and empower kids to see themselves as stewards. Over time, that creates momentum for bigger community changes.
Q: Tell us a little bit about yourself!
A: I’m from a small town in Maine and am a mom to a teen and a young adult. I’ve long been passionate about environmental justice and sustainability education. When I’m not working, you’ll find me floating on a lake or being playfully head-butted by my daughter’s pygmy goats, Blueberry and Muffin.
Do you know someone who is helping kids and their families walk, bike, and roll to and from school? Tell us about them by filling out this community spotlight nomination form!
Portland Bureau of Transportation Safe Routes to School and Vision Zero programs presented to Portland State University's Transportation Summer Camp's high school participants. The free, week-long summer camp offers an immersive introduction to transportation careers and the workings of transportation systems in Portland.
Portland Bureau of Transportation's Safe Routes to School and Vision Zero programs presented to high school participants at Portland State University's Transportation Summer Camp, sponsored by the Transportation Research and Education Center. Since 2016, the free, week-long summer camp offers an immersive introduction to transportation careers and the workings of transportation systems in Portland. Students heard from guest speakers, developed data collection and STEM skills, and went on daily field trips.
Meaghan Russell, Safe Routes to School's Safety Education and Outreach Coordinator, led a game of Jeopardy! to learn about driver safety from our Transportation Academy high school transportation education program. Campers asked incisive questions about regulation and the future of transportation safety. We appreciated the opportunity to present and left feeling optimistic about next generation of transportation professionals!
Woodmere Elementary School started their bike bus last school year with support from Portland Bureau of Transportation. Bike buses can be a great fit for communities that wish to encourage more bicycling to and from school.
Ruby Bridges Walk to School Day
Friday, November 14
Ruby Bridges Walk to School Day gives children the chance to celebrate Ruby’s courage by walking to school and is the perfect opportunity to teach children about the civil rights movement and make connections to today’s collective efforts for change.
Winter Walk+Roll to School Day
Wednesday, February 4
Put on your snow or rain boots and walk or roll to school while enjoying winter time in Oregon on Winter Walk+Roll to School Day.
Earth Month
April
Safe Routes to School celebrates the Earth every year in April for Earth Month. Walk and roll to school all month or choose a specific day to celebrate.
El Camino De Dolores - Dolores Huerta Walk+Roll to School Day
Friday, April 10
Dolores Huerta Walk+Roll to School Day honors Dolores Huerta's birthday to promote walking, biking, and rolling to school.
Walk+Roll May Challenge
May
For the Walk+Roll May Challenge, we encourage schools to plan events to promote walking and rolling during the month of May.
National Bike+Roll to School Day
Wednesday, May 6
National Bike+Roll to School Day is an opportunity to tune up your bike and take a ride to school.
Downtown Sunday Parkways will transform 2.3 miles of city streets into a vibrant celebration with music, vendor marketplaces, and free activities at every turn.
Mark your calendars for an epic Downtown Portland Sunday Parkways event, presented by Kaiser Permanente, on September 14! The Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) will create a 2.3-mile block party in the heart of the city, showcasing SW Broadway and SW Park Avenue between Oak and Harrison Streets. Park your bike and walk as you explore downtown businesses, parks, and cultural destinations along the way.
Join one of seven guided bike bus routes to the Downtown Portland Sunday Parkways on September 14. Portland Bureau of Transportation is partnering with Mike Bennett Studios to include seven “critters” that are featured on our bike bus map, which will start in different parts of the city.
Join one of seven guided bike bus routes to Downtown Portland Sunday Parkways! PBOT is partnering with Mike Bennett Studios to include seven “critters” that are featured on our bike bus map, which will start in different parts of the city. Route leaders will lead two inbound and two outbound rides. Inbound bike bus rides are scheduled to arrive at noon and 1:00 p.m. Outbound rides are estimated to depart at 3:30 and 4:30 p.m.
Join Portland’s first-ever Staycation Weekend, a three-day celebration of everything that makes our downtown vibrant: live music from PDX Pop Now, Timbers soccer, Downtown Sunday Parkways, special dining offers, and more.
Make a weekend of it and bring Sunday Parkways to your front door! Visitors from across Oregon and the metro area are encouraged to book a hotel room downtown September 12-14 as part of Portland Staycation Weekend, sponsored by Travel Portland in partnership with Sunday Parkways. Be a tourist in your city and explore new places and spaces or visit your tried-and-true favorites in the heart of the city. Enjoy discounts and special packages at downtown hotels, restaurants, and retailers all weekend long.
Infographic with an illustration of the Green Loop encouraging people to share their thoughts by taking the Green Loop survey today! The Green Loop is a concept for a 6-mile linear park and multiuse path connecting the Central City.
The Green Loop is a concept for a 6-mile linear park and multiuse path connecting the Central City. Share your feedback on the Green Loop vision, how you'd use it, priorities, and trade-offs. Take the Green Loop survey by Monday, September 15.
Your input will inform the work to come in the Green Loop Concept Plan: refining the Green Loop route, cross-section, and implementation strategies.
Become an Eco-School Network changemaker and join a community who make K-8 schools healthier, greener, and more resilient—one project at a time. The Eco-School Network is an organization of students, parents, teachers, and school staff promoting sustainable practices and raising ecological awareness in elementary schools in Oregon.
Already passionate about helping kids walk and bike to school, or looking for ways to make your school healthier and greener? Eco-School Network offers a free Changemaker Training that connects you with a community of parents and teachers who share your goals. They know how hard it can be to launch and sustain initiatives on your own, so they make sure you don’t have to.
Free training gives you access to:
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Regular gatherings to swap ideas and celebrate wins
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Mentorship and retreats to keep you motivated and inspired
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Seed funding to boost your school projects
Whether it’s a walk and bike initiative, a school garden, waste reduction, or a student green team, you’ll have the social support and tools you need to make lasting change.
Check out our short video and sign up for an upcoming information session at 7 p.m. on Monday, September 29 or Thursday, October 2.
A street art mural on SE 131st Place between Prescott Drive and Shaver Street. Last year, Portland Bureau of Transportation partnered with Parkrose High School and several other organizations to design a street art mural to raise awareness of traffic safety, revitalize public space, and engage students.
Metro Regional Travel Options Small Grant
Apply by Monday, September 15
The Metro Regional Travel Options (RTO) Small Grants program is comprised of technical assistance and small awards ($500-$5,000) intended to fund specific, one-time purchases of materials and services to support events, education, and outreach activities that support travel options use.
Metro Community Placemaking Grant
Apply by Friday, October 3
The Metro Community Placemaking grants program supports community-led, equity-centered, arts and culture efforts that strengthen people's connections to each other and places they care about. Applications for the upcoming grant cycle will be accepted Friday, August 15 through Friday, October 3. Metro will award grants ranging from $5,000 to $15,000.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's Child Passenger Safety Week encourages parents and caregivers to make sure their child is in the right car seat. As part of Child Passenger Safety week, National Seat Check Saturday is a day to receive free instruction on how to correctly install and use the right car seats for children.
Child Passenger Safety Week is recognized each year in September and brings heightened awareness to how parents and caregivers can keep children safe in vehicles. Car seats and booster seats provide protection for infants and children in a crash, but it’s important to make sure your child is in the right seat for their age and size—and that the seat is installed correctly. Use National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's (NHTSA) Car Seat Finder to make sure your child is in the right seat.
Get your car seat inspected
As part of Child Passenger Safety Week, National Seat Check Saturday— on September 27—is a day for you to receive free instruction on how to correctly install and use the right car seats for your children. Use NHTSA’s Car Seat Inspection locator to find a location near you.
Every day in 2023, on average, two children under 14 were killed and 345 were injured in traffic crashes while riding in passenger vehicles. In 2023, 43% of children killed in car crashes were unrestrained.
The Week Without Driving is an annual, nationwide initiative, taking place from September 29 to October 5, designed to give decision makers and individuals an opportunity to set aside their car keys for a week to see what life is like for those who cannot drive. By taking other forms of transportation, participants experience both the limitations and benefits of traveling without driving.
Did you know there’s a nationwide event called Week Without Driving?
Communities everywhere are embracing this week and considering how nondrivers in their communities move. It’s a week to rethink how to build more accessible places for everyone. Whether you're walking, rolling, biking, catching public transit or a ride from someone, the Week will inspire you to reimagine our streets. So, mark your calendars, spread the
word, and join us September 29 through October 5!
Personal safety is core to making our streets safe. To realize a safe transportation system that provides all people access and mobility to where they need to go, we must proactively take care of each other.
We want to help create a transportation system that allows all people to feel safe getting where they need to go. We put together free, accessible personal safety resources for community members, including how to report a non-urgent traffic safety concern, report bias and hate, participate in a self-defense workshop, and more.
The City of Portland posts new job opportunities every Monday.
Office of Violence Prevention Program Manager
Apply by Monday, September 8
The Office of Violence Prevention (OVP) Program Manager is a highly public-facing leadership position that provides overall management, vision, and accountability for OVP activities. This position strategically plans, organizes, directs, and evaluates the work of OVP programs and grantees and is responsible for developing, implementing, and achieving the OVP's objectives overseeing staff, policies, and program delivery.
Portland Clean Energy Community Benefits Fund Committee
Apply by Sunday, September 28
The Portland Clean Energy Community Benefits Fund (PCEF) Committee is seeking leaders to help ensure the most impacted Portlanders are prepared for a changing climate as we move toward our goal of net zero carbon emissions by 2050. The PECF is responsible for investing in community-led and community-inspired projects that reduce carbon emissions while expanding workforce pathways and economic opportunity for communities that have faced barriers to employment in the clean energy economy.
- New York City intersections see one-third fewer pedestrian injuries with longer head-start intervals (Phys.org)
- Bike bus + pop up lane = A better way to get back to school (and advocate) (Streetsblog USA)
- Six things any city can do to improve bicycling (PeopleForBikes)
- The Dutch intersection is coming to save your life (Bloomberg CityLab)
- Why school buses are painted yellow (WANE 15)
- Helsinki goes a full year without a traffic death (Yle)
- Hot car deaths are preventable: Tips to keep your loved ones safe (USA Today)
- Opinion: How daylighting can allow NYC’s streets to fight flooding (CityLimits)
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