Safe Routes to School

Learning Resources for Parents and Caregivers

Staying active by walking and rolling through our community — either to school or other destinations — is a great tool for keeping yourself and your family physically and mentally healthy.

Review safety tips with children before heading outside to walk or bike together.

E-Bikes & E-Scooters

Did you know that Oregon law requires riders of e-bikes and e-scooters to be at least 16?
Riders 16 and over who are interested in learning more about e-bike safety are encouraged to take the free online course offered by Commute Options.

Helmets are recommended for e-bike riders and required for e-scooter riders.

If you’re a teenager or parent of a teen, be sure to carefully review all your local legislation and restrictions when buying an e-bike. Parents should review the laws before allowing use of or purchasing an e-bike for their child. For parents with a child 16 years of age or older, please educate your child on traffic safety for e-bikes.

Electric bikes are classified into different categories based on their basic functionality.
(Oregon laws referenced — Oregon Revised Statutes § 801.258; § 814.405; § 814.410; § 807.020; § 814.485; § 815.470)

Class 1: “Pedal-assist only” means the motor is activated only while pedaling; motor provides assistance up to 20 mph.

Class 2: In addition to pedal-assist, a throttle mechanism on the bike’s handlebars activates the electric motor (when pedaling or not), up to 20 mph.

Class 3: Pedal assist only from 20-28 mph; pedal not required under 20 mph.

Help keep everyone safe. Understand the rules of the road for e-bikes.

E-bikes should not exceed 20mph speeds when under motorized power, and the motor should not exceed 1000w.
Class 1 and 2 e-bikes are allowed on any roadway, lane or bike path that traditional bikes are allowed on, but are not allowed on sidewalks. Some trails prohibit e-bikes so be sure to read signs. Class 3+ e-bikes are not allowed on most shared-use paths.
Anyone under the age of 16 riding on a highway or public area must wear protective headgear (helmet). This applies to those operating or passengers on both a traditional bike and e-bike passengers. There are exemptions if the headgear violates a religious belief or practice. .
Riders and passengers on both traditional bicycles and e-bikes must be seated on a permanent, regular attached seat.

Walking

Biking

Bike, skateboard, and non-motorized scooter riders under 16 are required to wear helmets at all times.

Safety tips and skills
- Videos from the Oregon Safe Routes to School Partnership
- Bicycle Safer Journey Webpage by the Federal Highway Administration
Helmet fitting
- Helmet Fitting 101 Video from The Oregon Safe Routes to School Partnership
- Easy Steps for a Perfectly Fitted Helmet Flyer from The Oregon Department of Transportation
- Volante: Un casco de calce perfecto del Oregon Department of Transportation
Bike Maintenance
- ABC Quick Check Video from The Oregon Safe Routes to School Partnership

Learn About Safe Routes to School

The City of Hillsboro Safe Routes to School (SRTS) Program works with the Hillsboro School District to create safe, convenient, and fun ways for youth to walk and roll (bike, scooter, skateboard, or ride the bus) to and from school in our community.

Benefits of walking and rolling to school:

Increased physical activity which improves health and increases learning, memory, and ability to stay on task
Improved air quality around schools
Reduced vehicle congestion

Community Conversations: Safe Routes to School in Hillsboro

Watch the video to hear Miranda Kessler explain the focus of the Safe Routes to School program and what's ahead for the work to help children get to school and back home safely.

Program Goal
Safety Improvement Projects
School Action Plans

Through authentic community engagement, education, and encouragement; student empowerment; context-sensitive engineering; committed partnerships; consistent and transparent evaluation; and a foundational equity lens, the City of Hillsboro Safe Routes to School program strives to:

Increase community, parent, and student understanding of multimodal safety and benefits.
Expand active transportation options for all students, parents, and teachers - including bussing and carpooling.
Reduce the number of single occupancy driving trips to and from schools.
Empower youth to advocate for policy, program, and environmental change.
Advance safe walking and rolling infrastructure through targeted, on-the-ground improvements.

View the Safe Routes to School Implementation Strategy.

Get Involved

Create an Action Plan

Action plans identify improvements and activities that could help increase the number of students who walk, bike, or roll to and from school.

The City of Hillsboro SRTS Coordinator works with schools to develop a plan that reflects their unique needs and neighborhood.

School Eligibility

Are you interested in creating an action plan for your school?

The following requirements will need to be met prior to starting a new Action Plan.

Parent champion or stakeholder group identified.
Committed principal.
City of Hillsboro staff capacity.

Contact our Safe Routes to School Coordinator to get started.

Events

Events are a great way to get more students and parents excited about walking and rolling. The SRTS coordinator creates fun events with schools who have started the action plan process or have a completed plan.

Past events:

Learn to Ride Bike Club
WL Henry - January 6, 2025
Mooberry - January 7, 2025
Walk and Roll Scavenger Hunt
Ladd Acres - January 13, 2025

Bike Rodeo 11am - 1 pm
Eastwood - March 1, 2025
Lincoln St - March 15, 2025
Witch Hazel - April 5, 2025
Tamarack - April 12, 2025
Imlay - May 3, 2025

Walk and Roll Scavenger Hunt
- 2021 Scavenger Hunt
Walk and Roll Month Celebrations
- 2021 Walk and Roll Challenge
- 2020 My Best Walk or Ride Art Contest
Walk and Roll to School Day (October and May)
- 2018 Walk and Roll to School Day
Walking School Bus
- 2019 W.L. Henry Elementary Walking School Bus Rally
Walk and Roll Rodeos
- 2019 Patterson Elementary Walk and Roll Rodeo
Wheel Fairy visits
- Spring 2021 Wheel Fairy Visit
- Fall 2021 Wheel Fairy Visit
Helmet fittings
- 2019 Helmet Fittings
Teacher Trainings
- 2020 Bringing Leadership, Arts, and Sports Together (BLAST) Pedestrian Safety Teacher Training
Tabling at STEM, back to school, family fun, and wellness nights

Teacher Resources

Safety Assembly Videos

The Walking and Biking Safety Assembly videos are an easy way for schools to talk to their students about how to make safe choices when they are walking and biking. Characters and toys the students are familiar with will teach them lots of important safety tips in just under 5 minutes. It will be fun and informative!

Walking and Biking Safety Video in English

Walking and Biking Safety Video in Spanish

Safety Classes

We provide lesson guides, classroom materials, and training for elementary and middle school teachers. All Hillsboro schools are eligible to receive training and education supplies.

Elementary

Physical Education activities and lessons teach elementary students about pedestrian safety.

Middle School

Lesson guides and slide presentations teach middle school students about pedestrian, bicycle, skateboard, and scooter safety.

Traffic Playgrounds

A Traffic Playground is a mini-street play space for kids to practice safe walking, biking, and scooting skills away from traffic. No real cars allowed.

Two traffic playgrounds are now open for students to get outside and practice these skills: