Students were in school no more than three days this year before BTA instructors invaded their classrooms with our Safer
Routes to School curriculum. I had a great first day teaching pedestrian safety to 2nd and 3rd graders at Boise Eliot. I can’t tell you how fun it is to see a wide-eyed second grader earnestly trying to make the right decision of when to cross a pretend road laid out in their classroom. Next week we’ll practice on real streets and sidewalks. In the classroom next door, bike safety instructor, Gregg, was giving 4th graders an introduction to safe cycling and rules of the road- a full 10 hour curriculum with lots of on-the-bike practice. So much cooler than driver’s ed.!
Meanwhile, over at Scott elementary, a school brand new to the Safer Routes to School program, they filled up their Pedal Power after school program in only three days of open registration. Go Scott! There, 5th, 6th, and 7th graders are learning their way around their community one two-hour bike ride at a time.
Look for more fun stories from our SR2S education programs this fall or better yet, experience the magic yourself by volunteering!
The BTA is a proud partner in Portland’s Safer Routes to School (SR2S) Program in which we coordinate education and encouragement services for participating schools as well as facilitate a community input process for traffic safety improvements. We also offer our bike safety curriculum and other services statewide in conjunction with Oregon’s fulfillment of the the federal Safe Routes to School Program.
