Oregon Could Let Schools Fund ‘Bike Buses,’ Transit

A proposed bill would pave the way for school districts to use their transportation budgets to support chaperones for biking or walking, public transit passes, or other modes.

1 minute read

March 7, 2023, 11:00 AM PST

By Diana Ionescu @aworkoffiction


A bill proposed in the Oregon state legislature would let school districts direct funds from their transportation budgets to alternative transportation such as transit passes or ‘bike buses,’ convoys of students riding their bikes to school accompanied by one or more adults.

As Jayati Ramakrishnan explains in Oregon Live, under current law, school districts can only spend their transportation budgets on school buses. “The bill [HB 3014] comes at a time that Oregon is facing a statewide bus driver shortage. School bus drivers in particular work difficult hours and can often readily find jobs that pay more.”

The article describes several ‘bike bus’ groups with as many as 200 students participating, but notes that many of them depend on parent volunteers. According to teacher Sam Balto, who started a bike bus last year, funding walking or biking chaperones can help students get to school safely even when school bus service is reduced and has been shown to improve attendance. “The bill, Balto said, would give schools flexibility to pay for more types of transportation for students — whether a crossing guard to help kids cross a busy street or for adults to walk or bike a group of kids to and from school each day.”

Monday, March 6, 2023 in Oregon Live

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Get top-rated, practical training

Close-up of "Apartment for rent" sign in red text on black background in front of blurred building

Trump Administration Could Effectively End Housing Voucher Program

Federal officials are eyeing major cuts to the Section 8 program that helps millions of low-income households pay rent.

April 21, 2025 - Housing Wire

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

10 minutes ago - Diana Ionescu

Ken Jennings stands in front of Snohomish County Community Transit bus.

Ken Jennings Launches Transit Web Series

The Jeopardy champ wants you to ride public transit.

April 20, 2025 - Streetsblog USA

View of passengers on transit bus at night.

Opinion: Transit Agencies Must View Service Cuts as Last Resort

Reducing service could cripple transit systems by pushing more riders to consider car ownership, making future recovery even less certain.

1 hour ago - Bloomberg CityLab

Man sitting on bench sillhouetted against golden hour trees in tranquil park.

‘Smart Surfaces’ Policy Guide Offers Advice for Building and Maintaining Urban Tree Canopies

Healthy, robust tree canopies can reduce the impacts of extreme heat and improve air quality.

2 hours ago - Smart Cities Dive

Aerial view of gold-covered New Jersey state capitol dome in Trenton, New Jersey at dusk.

New Jersey Lawsuit Targets Rent-Setting Algorithms

The state of New Jersey is taking legal action against landlords and companies that engage in what the state’s Attorney General alleges is illegal rent fixing.

3 hours ago - New Jersey Monitor