As someone who has been involved with Safe Routes to School for over nine years, it has been very satisfying – let alone exciting – to see the Safe Routes Partnership’s state network project not only thrive, but continue to get generously funded. And being personally involved has only made it that much sweeter. Prior to joining the staff in May 2011, I served on the Safe Routes Partnership’

Two very diverse states and a federal district. The Greater Washington region of the District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia is certainly an interesting place to live for many reasons. But it is an even more interesting place to work, especially when working in the policy realm.

Since the release of the Senate transportation bill back in November, we have faced the specter of a transportation bill in which state departments of transportation would make the sole decisions about whether to dedicate any funding to Safe Routes to School, bicycling and walking.

On Wednesday, March 14, the full Senate passed MAP-21, a two-year transportation reauthorization bill (more details).

Hi, my name is Kathy Cooke, and I'm network coordinator for the Safe Routes Partnership! Even though I battle daily to get my two sons to put on a jacket or long pants during Portland's rainier months, I've found ways to make sure other "systems" are in place that help them get safely to and from school. We have tools at the ready to fix their bike brakes or pump air in their tires.