The City of Hood River, Hood River County, and Hood River County School District are working together to make bike riding safer for children traveling to and from school. Kyle Ramey/file photo
The City of Hood River, Hood River County, and Hood River County School District are working together to make bike riding safer for children traveling to and from school. Kyle Ramey/file photo
HOOD RIVER — Four years ago, the community asked a simple question: what if every child had the opportunity to walk or bike to school? Today, the City of Hood River, Hood River County, and Hood River County School District are celebrating a series of major wins that move that vision from planning into implementation.
This summer, the City of Hood River was awarded an Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) Safe Routes to School Project Refinement Grant to begin engineering and concept refinement for a bike lane on Pacific Avenue. Hood River County officially adopted the County Safe Routes to School Plan, creating a roadmap for future walking and biking improvements throughout the county. At the same time, Hood River County School District (HRCSD) received a new two-year ODOT Safe Routes to School Education Grant, ensuring that students and families will continue to benefit from bicycle education, walking and biking events, and community engagement through 2028.
Together, these milestones represent three essential pieces of a successful Safe Routes to School program: planning, infrastructure and education.
“Safe Routes to School is exactly the kind of investment that pays off for generations: safer streets for our kids today, and a more walkable, bikeable Hood River tomorrow,” said Hood River City Councilor Gladys Rivera. “I’m thrilled to continue collaborating with Megan [Ramey, HRCSD Safe Routes to School manager] and that Pacific Avenue is getting the protected bikeway our families deserve.”
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