 Students and families at Whitman Elementary School in the Brentwood-Darlington neighborhood prepare to walk to school together. Families can build rewarding, healthy, climate-friendly habits by choosing to walk, bike, or roll to school. Photo by PBOT.
(Aug. 22, 2025) Back-to-school season is here, and streets all over Portland are about to get busier. With thousands of students walking, biking, rolling, and riding transit to school starting as soon as next week, the Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) urges everyone to travel with extra care.
“Our youngest residents are heading back to school,” said Mayor Keith Wilson. “As is the Portland way, thousands will be walking, biking and rolling to get there, just like I did with my kids. It’s up to all of us to watch out for our students and keep them safe.”
“Back-to-school season is a reminder that safe, welcoming streets depend on all of us,” said Priya Dhanapal, Deputy City Administrator for Public Works. “Across our Public Works bureaus, we’re working together to make neighborhoods healthier and safer so kids can walk, bike, and roll to school with confidence.”
“One of the best parts of my job is seeing the joy on the faces of Portland students as they walk and roll to school,” said Transportation Director Millicent Williams. “PBOT is committed to making investments that support student safety and mobility. We appreciate Portlanders support of Fixing Our Streets, which has already funded 350 completed projects near schools.”
Everyone plays a part in kids traveling to and from school safely
PBOT encourages people driving to 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. Additionally, traffic crashes are most common between 3 and 7 p.m., a time when students are being let out from school and after-school programs for the day.
 Students and families at Abernethy Elementary School in the Hosford-Abernethy neighborhood ride to school together on a bike bus. 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. Photo by PBOT.
Progress and public investment near schools
In the 2024-25 school year, PBOT completed 55 total improvement projects near schools.
- 25 crossing projects (curb ramps, crosswalks, medians, signals, etc.)
- 20 speed projects (speed bumps, lower speed limits, speed reader boards, etc.)
- 10 walkway projects (new sidewalks and paths)
Portland voters made these investments possible. In 2024, Portland voters renewed Portland’s 10-cent gas tax and heavy vehicle use tax for a third time. That program, known as Fixing Our Streets, funds traffic safety projects to make our streets safer for all—including projects near schools. Since Fixing Our Streets was first adopted in 2016, it has funded 350 completed projects near schools with another 100 in development, design, or construction. These investments are improving how Portland families access schools.
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More improvements are coming in the 2025-26 school year
Several PBOT infrastructure projects near schools are currently in construction or set to start construction this school year, including:
In construction
Starting construction in 2025-26 school year
Vision clearance to improve intersection visibility near schools, along neighborhood greenways, and in pedestrian districts
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 and a one-time investment in 2024 from the city’s General Fund.
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.
Bike bus wayfinding pilot project
PBOT’s Safe Routes to School program is partnering with Bike Bus PDX leaders to support bike buses and help make biking to school safer. 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.
Gearing up for fall walk and roll events
PBOT's Safe Routes to School program encourages families to build healthy, climate-friendly habits by choosing to walk, bike, or roll to school. Opting to walk, bike, or roll helps reduce the harmful chemicals, gases, and particle pollution around schools and promotes clean air. Practicing routes in advance of the start of the school year will give students and families an opportunity to get ready for fall travel and pick the safest way to school.
 Students and families at Woodmere Elementary School in the Brentwood-Darlington neighborhood bike ride to school together. Morning activity increases brain activity, so walking or rolling to school helps students arrive at school energized and ready to learn. Photo by PBOT.
Walk, bike, and roll to school together
PBOT encourages parents and caregivers to 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. 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. It’s a win-win, families will save a bit of money on gas and students get the benefit of some light exercise before class begins. A Safe Routes to School website offers tips and resources to get your own school program started. Over 25 schools in Portland already have a bike bus, with more being established all the time.
Traveling together allows families to enjoy meaningful time with one another while building connections within their school community. Morning activity increases brain activity, so walking, biking, or rolling to school helps students arrive at school energized and ready to learn.
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.
Visit the Safe Routes to School Back to School webpage for resources for families and students to plan their trips.
Slowing down makes streets safer for everyone
 Students at Whitman Elementary School in the Brentwood-Darlington neighborhood practice bike safety skills on a community bike ride. PBOT’s Safe Routes to School program helps students build handling and road awareness skills through short neighborhood rides. Photo by PBOT.
Speeding continues to be a top contributing factor in deadly crashes in Portland
Last year, at least 48% of traffic deaths involved speeding. As people travel faster, the risk of death or serious injury rises dramatically. A pedestrian struck by a person driving 20 mph is four times more likely to survive than a pedestrian struck at 40 mph. No person should die or be incapacitated in the everyday act of moving about. But each year dozens of Portlanders lose their lives doing just that.
To achieve Vision Zero — Portland’s commitment to eliminating traffic deaths and serious injuries on our streets— PBOT is investing in our highest-crash streets and intersections, protecting people through infrastructure changes, reducing speeds citywide, educating Portlanders about safe travel, and working with the Portland Police Bureau’s Traffic Division to enforce laws against dangerous driving.
Tips for people driving:
Tips for families and caregivers:
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