Commute Options expands Safe Routes to School programs with MPO funding

Brian Potwin, executive director of Commute Options, briefed the TAC on Safe Routes to School activities funded partly by the MPO and City of Bend.

Potwin said the current project is $67,000 per year for three years and supports education (pedestrian instruction for K–2, bike safety for grades 3–5), learn‑to‑ride events, Walk to School Day activities and a volunteer program. "We're actually pretty excited about the turnout on these," he said of learn‑to‑ride and bike‑night events, which include helmet giveaways and on‑street skills training.

He said the program emphasizes a walk zone of about a mile for elementary students and about a mile and a half for middle and high schools; students beyond those distances typically rely on busing. The program also supports mapping projects in partnership with the City of Bend to create suggested walking routes and highlight crossings.

Potwin said the program plans to develop a volunteer management position at Commute Options in 2026 to expand training, recruitment and retention and to scale programming across additional schools. The committee received the update as informational; staff said they could expand the reporting period for the policy board if requested.