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 in August of 2023. 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.
CHS Bike Bus 2024
In August 2024, I had the joy of leading the newest high schoolers on our neighborhood Bike Bus ride. Riding together builds visibility on the road, eases first-day jitters, and turns the morning commute into something students look forward to. By the time we reach campus, there’s a shared sense of accomplishment, and a few new biking enthusiasts ready to keep the tradition going.
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, in addition to 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 after our successful event.
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 volunteered 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 one simple repair session can have on the bikes and people involved.
SR2S 10th Anniversary
In May 2025, SR2S Cupertino proudly celebrated its 10th anniversary alongside program coordinators Birgit Werner and Chelsea Biklen, all six student representatives, administrative liaisons, dedicated parent volunteers, and members of Walk-Bike Cupertino. SR2S Cupertino was originally founded by Chelsea Biklen, who envisioned a program where high school students would play a central role in advocating for active and sustainable transportation.
Biking Journey – The Start
I recently found this photo, and it took me back to when my love for biking first started. As a young child, I would ride in the back of my mom’s bike during long rides – something I always looked forward to. When I got my own bike, I asked my family to join me on rides to our neighborhood Target, something that always felt like a big adventure for me. Over time, biking became more than just fun. Biking made me feel free. In high school, I joined Safe Routes to School to help others feel that same freedom and to work for safer streets for those bikers.
CHS Bike Bus 2025
In August 2025, I had the great pleasure of leading the incoming freshmen on my neighborhood Bike Bus route. Bike Bus is an initiative I helped start three years ago to encourage students to bike to school. By providing a safe, guided ride, we are introducing students and parents to the benefits of active transportation while easing concerns about traffic safety. This year, we hit a record high of almost 40 signups!
SR2S Booth @ Bobateeno 2025
At Cupertino’s Bobateeno youth fair, an initiative started by Mayor Liang Chao, I represented Safe Routes to School (SR2S) by hosting an outreach table to engage teens and families in active transportation. I shared information about biking and walking safety, encouraged sustainable commuting to school, hosted a fun spinner wheel for prizes, and helped connect students with SR2S events and volunteer opportunities.
Bike Fest 2025
In September 2025, I volunteered as the organizer’s assistant for Cupertino’s 12th Annual Bike Fest. I supported event leads Birgit Werner (pictured) and Chelsea Biklen with logistics, setup, and coordination of a new feature (the Little Loop, which was a success!). The event celebrated its twelfth year with community bike rides and engaging activities.