It’s Bike to School Day! Students Across the Country Celebrate Fun, Safe, Bike-Powered Transportation
Newport, Oregon (May 2, 2019) – On May 8, 2019, schools, cities, volunteer groups, public health and law enforcement agencies, and parents are organizing Bike to School Day events to celebrate the benefits of choosing student-powered transportation.
In Newport, students will meet at Bike Newport (150 NW 6th St.) at 7:15 AM and will be escorted on their bicycles by a group of parents, volunteers, and the Newport Police Department to local schools.
National Bike to School Day provides an opportunity for communities across the country to join together to celebrate safe, active transportation and, where needed, to bring attention to necessary changes so more people can safely bicycle to more places. Participation in this annual event grows every year. The success of Bike to School Day is thanks to the enthusiasm and commitment of tens of thousands of students, parents, volunteers, school administrators, elected officials, and community leaders.
“Bicycling is a wonderful way to exercise, have fun and can be a means for some students to get to school,” said U.S. Secretary of Transportation Elaine L. Chao. “National Bike to School Day is an opportunity for communities to highlight the many benefits of bicycling and promote bicycle safety for Americans of all ages.”
The U.S. DOT provides support for promotion of Bike to School Day through its clearinghouse, the Pedestrian and Bicycle Information Center, which coordinates closely with the National Center for Safe Routes to School, the national coordinating agency for Bike to School Day. Also supported by the FIA Foundation, Bike to School Day 2019 takes place during UN Global Road Safety Week, an international campaign for road safety that focuses on speed management and improvements to reduce road traffic deaths and injuries worldwide.
“On Bike to School Day, we’re pleased to report that places around the country are celebrating the fun of biking to school and prioritizing children as they look to improve transportation safety for their entire communities,” said Nancy Pullen-Seufert, Director of the National Center for Safe Routes to School. “For example, Chicago, New York City and many rural and small town communities are seeing school zones as priority places to address speeding traffic – which can have safety benefits for everyone.”
Bike to School Day events are taking place nationwide on May 8, 2019, and throughout the month of May, National Bike Month. To browse the names and locations of registered 2019 events, visit http://www.walkbiketoschool.org/registration/whosbiking.php
About National Bike to School Day
Established in 2012, National Bike to School Day provides an opportunity for schools across the country to celebrate bicycling to school each May. It is an energetic, kid-centric part of National Bike Month and builds on the popularity of International Walk to School Day, held each October. Event partners include FIA Foundation, Pedestrian Bicycle Information Center, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Highway Administration and National Highway Traffic
Safety Administration, and the National Center for Safe Routes to School. For more information, visit walkbiketoschool.org.
About the National Center for Safe Routes to School
The National Center for Safe Routes to School (National Center) is committed to empowering communities to make walking and bicycling to school a safe, appealing, preferred choice for families. The National Center facilitates communities in becoming places for safe walking and bicycling for everyone starting with children and the trip to school. In 2016, the National Center launched the “Vision Zero for Youth” initiative, which includes encouraging elected officials to use walk and bike to school events to voice their commitment to safe walking and bicycling and the elimination of fatal and serious traffic crashes.
Media Contacts
Wendy Henriksen
Newport Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee Chair, City of Newport 541-270-9549
Rachel Cotton
Associate Planner, City of Newport 541-574-3341 work / 541-574-0644 fax