(Oct. 5, 2015) On Wednesday, October 7, Commissioner Steve Novick, Portland Public Schools Board Member Mike Rosen, Portland Bureau of Transportation Director Leah Treat and other local dignitaries will join students and staff from Lent K-8 School in celebration of International Walk and Bike to School Day and the success of Portland’s Safe Routes to School program.
WHO:
Commissioner Steve Novick
Portland Public Schools Board Member Mike Rosen
Portland Bureau of Transportation Director Leah Treat
Other local dignitaries
Students and staff from Lent K-8 School
WHAT:
In celebration of the progress made in getting more students to walk and bike to school, the Safe Routes to School program of the Portland Bureau of Transportation is organizing a media event at Lent K-8 School on International Walk and Bike to School Day. Since its inception in 2005, the Portland Safe Routes program has made impressive gains in increasing the number of students walking and biking to school. The program now serves over 100 elementary, K-8 and middle schools across 5 school districts and reaches over 40,000 students. Today 43.6 percent of trips to school in Portland are on foot or by bike, an increase of 35 percent from when the program began.
WHEN:
7:45 am – Dignitaries arrive at Bloomington and Lents Parks (see list below)
7:55 am – Families arrive at Parks
8:00 am – Walking School Buses and Bike Trains leave for school
8:15 am – Ceremony in Lent School courtyard
8:30 am – Bell rings for school
WHERE:
Dignitaries/staff at Lents Park (playground on corner of SE 92nd and Steele):
Commissioner Steve Novick
Director Leah Treat
Mike Rosen (PPS School Board)
Dignitaries/staff at Bloomington Park (on corner of SE 100th and Steele):
Dr. Jeff Stanley (Kaiser)
Elizabeth Engberg (Kaiser Thriving Schools)
Capt. Kelli Sheffer (Portland Police)
Steph Noll (Bicycle Transportation Alliance)
Margaux Mennesson (SRTS National Partnership)
Cory Poole (NW Skate Coalition)
Lent K-8 School, 5105 SE 97th Ave
VISUALS:
News media can join dignitaries, students and staff at either Lents or Bloomington Park and walk with them to Lent K-8 School. Dignitaries and students will participate in Walking School Buses and Bike Trains as they walk or bike to Lent School. Lent is a Title 1 school and has a diverse student body, with the majority of students representing communities of color. Dignitaries will give short remarks at a special program in the Lent School courtyard prior to the 8:30 a.m. school bell.
###