SR2S: A GLOBAL INITIATIVE
The Safe Routes to School (SRTS) Program began in Odense, Denmark, during the 1970s with a focus on creating safe pathways for children to walk and bike to school. The concept gained traction in the U.S. with a notable initiative in the Bronx, New York, in 1997. By 2005, it was recognized as a European Union target and was further supported by the U.S. Congress through the Federal-Aid Safe Routes to School Program. This global movement highlights the ongoing effort to enhance child safety and mobility while fostering healthier, more connected communities.
Dr. Bike – Bike Repair Event ’23
My team and I hosted Dr. Bike, a free bike repair event for high school students. The event was funded through a $10,000 grant by Silicon Valley Clean Energy. Cupertino High School Safe Routes to School students Raashi Sachdeva and Henry Widjaja, mentored by Safe Routes parent Seema Lindskog and Vice-Principal Steve Puccinelli, successfully applied for and obtained the grant.
City of Cupertino Bike Fest ’23
As an Organizer’s Assistant for the City of Cupertino’s Bike Fest for the past 2 years, I help the event lead, Birgit Werner, in logistical tasks that help keep the event running smoothly. Recently, the City of Cupertino hosted the 10th Anniversary of City of Cupertino Bike Fest in 2023. It was bigger and better than ever! More than 650 people came to the festival – the most ever for Bike Fest.
CHS Bike Bus 2023
It has been an absolute pleasure leading the Bike Bus event for my high school’s freshmen for the past 2 years. Bike Bus provides a fun, convenient, and safe way for everyone to ride together to school. On busy, traffic-congested streets, a group of five to ten kids biking together is much more visible than just one or two riding alone. Thus, we are encouraging safe biking practices through this event.
SVBC Youth Speaker
Speaker at Silicon Valley’s largest event for active transportation leaders, including government, private sector, non-profits, and the public. It is the most information-rich gathering of the year for bicycle professionals, elected and appointed officials, and citizen advocates in Silicon Valley, providing essential insights and networking opportunities.
Bike Summit Presentation
Speaker at Silicon Valley’s largest event for active transportation leaders, including government, private sector, non-profits, and the public. It is the most information-rich gathering of the year for bicycle professionals, elected and appointed officials, and citizen advocates in Silicon Valley, providing essential insights and networking opportunities.
Bike Summit Award Winners
Speaker at Silicon Valley’s largest event for active transportation leaders, including government, private sector, non-profits, and the public. It is the most information-rich gathering of the year for bicycle professionals, elected and appointed officials, and citizen advocates in Silicon Valley, providing essential insights and networking opportunities.
Stanford Bicycle Repair Project
The Stanford Bicycle Project (SBP) offers free bike maintenance and education to the Stanford community. It also repairs abandoned bikes collected by campus police and donates them to underprivileged Stanford students, ensuring they have access to reliable transportation.
Stanford Bike Repair Day
At Stanford Bike Repair Day, I helped refurbish abandoned bikes on campus, preparing them for donation to low-income students. These bikes would provide essential transportation, helping students navigate the campus more easily and access opportunities that might otherwise be out of reach.
Don’t Drive for Donuts 2024
Don’t Drive for Donuts is a bi-monthly event that incentivizes alternative methods of transportation by giving students who walked/biked a donut. This year, we handed out 300 donuts and also bike patch kits, keychains, and flashlights during our fun trivia activity! Here, I stand with a parent volunteer, the assistant principal Mr. Puccinelli, and my partner SR2S representative.
Dr. Bike x BikeX
In September 2024, the CHS Safe Routes to School team and I hosted another successful Dr. Bike event, continuing our commitment to promoting sustainable and accessible transportation for students. Dr. Bike is a free bike repair clinic made possible through a $10,000 grant from Silicon Valley Clean Energy. Throughout the 2024-2025 school year, I also helped facilitate Dr. Bike events at Monta Vista, Homestead, and Fremont High Schools.
Bike Fest 2024
In September 2024, I volutneered to be the organizer’s assistant for Cupertino City’s 11th annual Bike Fest. I helped the event leads, Birgit Werner (pictured) and Chelsea Biklen with logistical tasks and set ups to help the event run smoothly. This event was Cupertino City’s 11th year hosting the Bike Fest. The event included bike rides, fun activities, and more.
Community Bike Repair Day
While planning for our second grant funded project, I visited BikeX’s Palo Alto shop to learn more about their mission and community. During my visit, I got to jump in on one of their community “Repair Days,” where volunteers and community members come together to fix up bikes, swap tips, and learn from each other. It was hands-on, welcoming, and inspiring to see how much impact a simple repair session can have on the bikes and people involved.