Safe Routes to School makes walking and bicycling to school more fun, convenient, and safe for families.

Multnomah County partners with the cities and schools of East Multnomah County to support Safe Routes to School activities for youth.


Ruby Bridges Walk to School 2022

A man and a woman with two young children, all wearing orange safety vests, smile while holding up hand-drawn pictures of a woman.
Wilkes Elementary family with hand-held posters created by SUN students.

This fall the Safe Routes to School team supported fall walk and roll to school events, including three Ruby Bridges walks!

Ruby Bridges was the first African-American child to desegregate the all-white William Frantz Elementary School in Louisiana during the New Orleans school desegregation crisis on November 14, 1960.  Her story has inspired schools to honor her bravery with an annual Walk to School Day, supported by Safe Routes to School.

Three East County schools participated in a Ruby Bridges walk event:  Butler Creek Elementary, Meadows Elementary, and Wilkes Elementary. The afterschool SUN coordinators championed the walks, and the SRTS program created maps and flyers for school wide distribution.  

We look forward to ongoing efforts to encourage walking and rolling to school, promoting health, safety, and equity for our east County families. 


Resources

Multnomah County can support schools in East Multnomah County who provide Safe Routes to School programming activities such as: 

  • Encouragement events before, during, or after school to promote walking and bicycling

  • Bicycle and pedestrian safety curriculum for schools, including training for school staff

Learn how Multnomah County can support your Safe Routes to School activities, and see examples of successful projects:

Partners and Resources:

City of Gresham

City of Portland

Oregon Safe Routes to School

The Safe Routes to School National Partnership, Pacific Northwest Region

Contact:

MaryJo Andersen
maryjo.andersen@multco.us
Safe Routes to School
Multnomah County Transportation Planning