Get ready: International Walk + Roll!

Dear parents, caregivers, educators, and community, 

We must have done something right because the weather goddesses are in our favor for two major events coming up:

• International Walk + Roll to School Day is Wednesday, Oct. 9 (Make sure you order incentives by Wednesday, Oct. 2!)
• The Parkrose Pedal, a youth inspired community walk and bike event hosted by Parkrose School District, is Saturday, Oct. 5.

Continue scrolling to learn about Safe Routes to School's recent accomplishments, more events, grant opportunities, upcoming infrastructure projects, safety tips for travelling when the days get darker, and more.

Remember to follow us on Instagram and Facebook, and tag us in your 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

• Learn about our program, 2023-24 school year accomplishments, and strategic priorities
• Events and opportunities
• Grants
• Safer crossings coming to King, Vernon, and Concordia neighborhoods on NE Killingsworth
• It's about to get a lot darker. Get ready!
• What we're reading
• Job and volunteer postings

Learn about our program, 2023-24 school year accomplishments, and strategic priorities

The Safe Routes to School team recently completed our first-ever program summary report—and we hope you'll check it out!

This is more than just a summary of the work our program (and many, many partners!) accomplished in the 2023-24 school year to help students and families walk, bike, and roll to and from school and around their neighborhoods. It’s also a collection of dozens of inspiring stories that tell how people in Portland are making their streets safer, communities healthier, and lives more enjoyable.  

Portland are making their streets safer, communities healthier, and lives more enjoyable.  

Learn more about the Safe Routes to School Program Summary 2023-24

Events and opportunities

Parkrose Pedal

Saturday, Oct 5
11 a.m. - 2 p.m.

Parkrose School District, in partnership with Safe Routes to School, will host the Parkrose Pedal, a youth inspired community cycling and walking event. The Parkrose Pedal is an annual tradition that started in 2020. It centers youth and student culture, vibrancy, and freedom—freedom to take up space, freedom of expression, and freedom to be unapologetic in how we show up. Interested in volunteering? Sign up now!

Learn more about the Parkrose Pedal

Youth Personal Safety and Self-Defense Workshops

Mondays, Oct. 7 & 14
6 - 8 p.m.

Rose City Self-Defense, an organization working within schools to empower girls through self-defense, is hosting youth personal safety and self-defense workshops in the Mississippi/Albina neighborhood on Mondays, Oct. 7 and 14 from 6 to 8 p.m. Interested in setting up youth programs for your group? Submit a request.

Learn more about youth personal safety and self-defense workshops

Rainy Rider Photo Contest

Tuesday, Oct. 1 - Thursday, Oct. 31

Participate in Portland Bureau of Transportation's Rainy Rider Photo Contest throughout the month of October for the chance to win some waterproof bicycling gear! Riding in the rain is not only possible, but also fun too! Text BIKE to 888-520-0526 followed by a photo of yourself and your bicycle in the rain for the chance to win rain capes from Cleverhood or bike bags from Ortlieb and North St. Bags! If your photo features a BIKETOWN bike, you'll be entered in an additional drawing to win a free annual BIKETOWN membership!

Learn more about the Rainy Rider Photo Contest

International Walk + Roll to School Day

Tuesday, Oct. 15

Since 1964, people across the country recognize White Cane Day on Oct. 15 to celebrate the achievements of people who are blind or visually impaired—as well as the important symbol of blindness and tool of independence, the white cane.

When you see someone using a white cane, remember that the cane is a tool for people who are blind to navigate the environment safely and independently. There's no need to shout warnings or try to physically steer so that canes don't bump into things. Remember that people are using their canes to explore what is around them. If they need any help or direction, they will ask. If you are driving or cycling and see someone using a white cane, you must follow the law and stop to give that person the right of way. Take this opportunity to review Oregon crosswalk laws as they relate to the visually impaired.

Learn more about White Cane Awareness Day

Ruby Bridges Walk to School Day

Grants

Metro Community Placemaking grants

Applications due by Friday, Oct. 4 at noon

Metro Community Placemaking grants support community-led, equity-centered, arts, and culture efforts that strengthen people's connections to each other and places they care about. Metro will award grants ranging from $5,000 to $25,000. No matching funds are required. 

Learn more about Metro Community Placemaking grants

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). 

Learn more about Metro RTO small grants

Safer crossings coming to King, Vernon, and Concordia neighborhoods on NE Killingsworth

Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) will install nine safer crossings on NE Killingsworth Street between MLK Jr Boulevard and 42nd Avenue benefiting Vernon Elementary School students and families.

Construction will start fall 2024

The NE Killingsworth Safer Crossings Project is currently in design. Construction for the crossings at 7th, 22nd, 25th and 27th avenues will take place this fall while construction for the crossings at 11th, 13th, and 17th avenues; 35th Place; and César E. Chávez Boulevard will occur next summer.

Improving pedestrian crossings and slowing traffic

The nine new crossings will include pedestrian islands, curb extensions, and cement floating islands. The spacing of these crossings will bring the corridor up to PedPDX— Portland's citywide pedestrian plan—spacing guidelines, improve pedestrian safety, and slow traffic. 

The project is funded through Oregon Department of Transportation's State Funded Local Projects program, the Portland Clean Energy Community Benefits Fund, and HB2017.

Learn more about the NE Killingsworth Safer Crossing Improvements project

It's about to get a lot darker. Get ready!

In about one month, many Portlanders will be heading home after sunset during the evening commute. As we prepare for these changes ahead, it is important that people driving slow down, use caution, and look out for people walking, biking, and rolling on the street. 

We all have a responsibility to help make our streets safe

• Slow down and travel at or below the speed limit
• Take care when making turns and approaching crosswalks
• Always turn on headlights
• Maintain a safe distance between vehicles 
• Keep windshields clean
• Stay alert and avoid distractions—no eating, drinking, or using your phone
• Dress as visibly as possible when traveling outside of a motor vehicle

Did you know that pedestrians wearing reflective clothing are visible to people driving up to 500 feet away? Compare that to just 55 feet away when pedestrians wear dark colors and no reflective gear or lights.

Drivers kill more pedestrians in darker conditions

Vision Zero, Portland's goal to eliminate traffic deaths and serious injuries on our street, reported that 77% of traffic deaths last year occurred in darker conditions (which includes dusk, nighttime, and dawn). Of all pedestrian deaths last year, 83% occurred in darker conditions. These trends are consistent with traffic safety research. 

When possible, avoid travel at night—especially if you're older

As we age, we have greater difficulty seeing at night. A 50-year-old driver may need twice as much light to see as well as a 30-year-old. Research indicates that people over age 60 may have a hard time driving safely at night, and may want to consider limiting themselves to daytime driving. 

Street lighting investments save lives

Our lighting guidelines call for consistent illumination across and along major streets. Infill lighting combined with tweaks to existing lights support safety while conserving energy. As we work to improve lighting on Portland streets, please take extra care when traveling in dark conditions.

Learn more about how to stay safe during changing weather conditions

What we're reading

• The case against driving city kids to school (The San Francisco Standard)
• How school drop-off became a nightmare (The Atlantic)
• Recess duty: How we tried—and failed—to get our kids more outside time during the school day. (Slate)
• Oakland’s new school buses don’t just reduce pollution—they double as giant batteries (Grist)
• The failing school bus: The causes and consequences of another broken piece of public infrastructure (Slate)
• Why do most school buses not have seat belts? (The Hill)
• Where cargo bikes are freeing cities from polluting vans (Bloomberg CityLab)
• With pedestrian fatalities mounting, regulators propose tougher vehicle design rules (NPR)
• Dark highways, fast cars, few sidewalks—and more pedestrian deaths (Stateline)
• The journey to zero traffic deaths: Metro staff share updated tool for prioritizing safety investments in the most vulnerable communities (Oregon Metro)
• California’s anti-speeding bill can be a traffic safety breakthrough (Bloomberg CityLab)
• Newsom vetoes bill that would have required speed-limit alert systems in new cars (Los Angeles Times)
• The outsized cost of expanding US roads (Bloomberg CityLab)
• 12 climate books for teachers and educators (Yale Climate Connections)

Job and volunteer postings

• Shared Micromobility Program Manager: Shared micromobility services, including Lime and Lyft e-scooters and electric bikes, advance Portland Bureau of Transportation's goal to reduce carbon emissions, reduce car dependency, and make the transportation system safer and more efficient. This position will lead the implementation and growth of Portland’s shared micromobility program. Closing Oct. 7. Job posting here.
• Engineering Trainee: The Engineering Trainee will assist others within the Portland Bureau of Transportation design and operate Portland streets. This is a great opportunity for Civil/Transportation Engineering or Planning student to learn how to apply transportation principles to improve street safety. Closing Oct. 21. Job posting here.
• 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.
• 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!