Beaverton Safe Routes to School

We are excited about the upcoming year filled with walking and rolling to school! Did you know that "rolling" also includes using a school bus for transportation? If all students with access to a school bus used it and those within walking distance chose to walk or ride bikes, the number of cars needed to transport kids to school would significantly decrease. Imagine the reduced carbon emissions, enhanced safety, and happy children arriving at school eager to learn. Last year, we had 13 Walking School Bus programs and 1 Bike Bus program operating regularly. Our aim is to increase this to 15! Walking School Bus and Bike Bus initiatives are simple ways to encourage many children to commute to school together. They offer additional safety, time for exercise, and the chance to enjoy the journey with friends. Join us in achieving our goal by organizing a Walking School Bus or Bike Bus program at your school this year!

The Walking School Bus is a supervised group of students who walk to school together from a meeting spot. Students earn prizes, make friends, and get to know their neighborhood. Walking together makes the trip to school significantly safer, easier, and more fun. Parents can join the walk, or drop their student off with the Walking School Bus volunteer, making this a convenient option for working families. Visit our website to find out if there is a Walking School Bus route in your neighborhood, or request a Walking School Bus at the link below!

Join us in celebrating International Walk + Roll to School Day, our main walk + roll event of the school year, encouraging students to walk, bike, scooter, skateboard, or take the bus to school. This initiative promotes fresh air, exercise, and camaraderie among students while helping keep cars off the road and reducing traffic congestion around schools.

To enhance participation, we'll track class tallies and award exciting prizes! We'll also hold a raffle for a band-new scooter and helmet at every elementary and comprehensive middle school. Let's work together to make this event a memorable experience that highlights the benefits of active transportation to school.

Please use our event planning tool at the link below to help you get started.

Back to school planning includes deciding how your student will travel to school this fall. As you consider your options, Beaverton Safe Routes to School invites you to familiarize yourself with the various tools on our website including:

• Suggested walk and bike routes for each school
• Safety tips for all modes of travel (walk, bike, bus, car)
• Arrival/Departure maps for each school (how students who travel by foot, bus and car should arrive and leave school)

The safety of our students depends on you!

To learn more visit: www.beaverton.k12.or.us/safe-routes

Our 24/25 Messaging Toolkit includes articles like the one above. Posting at least one article per month can make a big difference in decreasing car traffic in, and around, school parking lots. The toolkit also includes dates and links to planning guides and registration for all of our Walk + Roll events this school year. Take a look and start planning now!

Email: leah_biado-luis@beaverton.k12.or.us
Website: www.beaverton.k12.or.us/departments/transportation/safe-routes-to-school
Phone: 503-356-4274
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BeavertonSafeRoutes

Beaverton Safe Routes to School is made possible with the support from City of Beaverton, Metro and Oregon Department of Transportation. Thank you!