Welcome to all the new SRTS Coordinators across the state!
Name, Title Organization: David (Dabeat) Nieto-Wenzell, LCOG- Rural Safe Routes to School Coordinator
What made you want to become an SRTS practitioner?
My son rides his bike to Roosevelt Middle School, so our family directly benefits from the Safe Routes program. We see firsthand how Safe Routes improves access to health, mobility, and affordable transportation. Every year, we participate in Walk+Roll events. This month, we brought our bikes to get serviced at a “May Is Bike Month” clinic, a project of Safe Routes. At the event, we signed our son up for a camp where he will learn about route-building and bike mechanics. Additionally, I aimed to reach rural communities and understand what is required for safe pedestrian and cycling routes.
What are you most excited about for the upcoming school year?
What motivates me to work with youth is the opportunity to learn from the voices of young people from diverse community backgrounds and their experiences, and how we can strengthen and make education more accessible.
Do you have any favorite memories of walking or rolling to school?
I grew up in a big city, in the heart of the downtown area. From a very young age, pedestrian education has been a part of my day-to-day life. I will walk to an area where other students will meet to take the bus. It was a great experience, as we all took care of each other and had the opportunity to meet with kids from other grades
Name, Title, Where you work: Christina Lundahl, Safe Routes to School Coordinator, Springfield School District
What made you want to become an SRTS practitioner?
Seeing the opportunity to connect with students and families through biking and learning about active transportation, as well as getting to be an advocate for improving safety!
What are you most excited about for the upcoming school year?
Continuing Springfield’s elementary Learn to Ride classes and expanding our middle school bike safety programming.
Do you have any favorite memories of walking or rolling to school?
In elementary school, I remember getting so excited for our Walk and Roll to School Days. We lived near the top of a steep hill near my school, and it felt like practice of confidence in my own skills and independence as I got to cruise down my hill all by myself 🙂
Name, Title, Where you work: Cassie Minot, Bike Education Program Coordinator, Corvallis School District
What made you want to be a Safe Routes Practitioner?
I was excited to expand the innovative and inclusive bike education program in Corvallis. Giving students the chance to experience and practice essential safety skills—skills that can grow into their ticket to freedom—is both serious and fun. It’s empowering. To me, helping students become independently mobile is a powerful way to support their long-term health and happiness.
What are you most excited about for the upcoming school year?
Last school year, we launched a new K–5 bike education program. I’m excited to watch students’ skills develop year after year and to see how the program evolves to continue offering rich, engaging experiences. We also organized our first bike bus, and I’m hopeful we’ll be able to grow it—both in how often it runs and how many students take part.
Do you have any favorite memories of walking or rolling to school?
One of my favorite memories of biking to school is the feeling of exhilaration as I pedaled through crisp morning air—my hands and face tingling slightly from the cold. I’d arrive at school feeling wide awake and ready for a great day.
Name, Title, Where do you work: Sky Richert-Lathum, Sustainability Specialist, Corvallis School District
What made you want to become a Safe Routes Practioner?
I came to SRTS through Sustainability, and I find it to be a wonderful way to introduce different concepts of intersectional environmentalism and public health/safety to our students.
What are you most excited about for the next school year?
I am most excited about working with our school district to find unique and interesting ways to collaborate with the local school to include further bike education, and working alongside city partners to continue to evaluate our Safe Routes to School across the district.
Do you have any memories of walking or rolling to school?
My favorite memory of walking to school was from middle school, when I was so close that I got to walk most days in my hometown of St. Louis. I had a lovely neighbor who allowed me to cut through her yard, and I would always say hello to her dog on the way through the backyard.
Name, Title, Where do you work: My name is Maddy Cirineo (she/her) and I am the Safe Routes to School Coordinator for Portland Public Schools
What made you want to be a Safe Routes practitioner?
It has been my goal to work with Safe Routes to School for quite some time. I believe every kid deserves a safe and accessible way to get to school, and that walking and biking not only make communities healthier and more connected—they’re also powerful tools for equity and joy. I’m so grateful to be in a role where I can promote active transportation and support students across the district.
What are you the most excited about for the next school year?
I’m excited to connect with schools across the district and build relationships within each community. And, of course, I’m excited to join as many bike and walk buses as I can!
Do you have any memories of walking or rolling to school?
In middle school, a group of friends and I would skateboard home from school together to one of our homes each week. It was something we always looked forward to and taught me early on how joyful and freeing it can be to walk and roll.