Header graphic by Alex from NEA Community Learning Center.

The Safe Routes to Schools (SR2S) Youth Task Force is made up of high school students who help coordinate SR2S events at their schools and take an active role in encouraging active and shared transportation among their peers. We recently asked them about why they joined the Youth Task Force and how their attitudes about active transportation have changed since they were in elementary school. 

Students touched on themes of equity, access to public transit, independence, finding community, being of service, and fun. They shared their inspiration through artwork and text.

This is part one of a two-part series spotlighting Youth Task Force voices.

Building community

The glue that holds active transportation groups together is the strong bonds of community formed when people walk or bike together. Working to bring the joy of walking and rolling to their fellow students is also a bonding experience for Youth Task Force members. 

Alameda Community Learning Center student Natalie shared multiple community connections, including memories of happy bus rides with family: “I’m motivated by Michele [Walker — Transform’s YTF liaison]! Maya (another learner at ACLC) invited me to join, and I thought it would be interesting. The project (social media) was really fun. It was great to do with people who are on the same page as you. In elementary school, I was motivated by being able to spend time with my grandparents. I always took the bus from the Oakland library with my grandma, and we’d walk up a hill to our house. I also always took the BART with my grandparents to San Francisco, and we’d walk around and eat food! 

Katie, who goes to Irvington High School in Fremont, shared how community has inspired her to stay involved: “First year, I just joined because I wanted a thing to do! But then, I really liked the interaction with people. BikeMobile events, like getting free bike repair to help the community. Direct impact! When I was younger, I remember Golden Sneaker and was simply motivated by pride in shiny things!”

Giving youth the freedom to move — and have fun!

For many high school students who are old enough to go places on their own but too young to drive (or don’t want a driver’s license), feeling confident to ride a bike or take the bus means independence. The Youth Task Force gives students a chance to share the fun and independence with others. 

Keenan from Alameda High School said, “One thing that motivates me to do SR2S work is my mom, who emphasized how important it is to be able to get to school independently. Also important to be eco-friendly. Now I realize this myself and think it’s important to help others do this too.”

Berkeley High School student Alex said, “I think what motivates me to work with SR2S is that I personally have been biking to school since kindergarten almost every single day and it gives me independence and is a really great tool for people to have. I also care about the environment and think that prompting environmentally friendly ways to get to school is beneficial. Also noticed that cars around BHS are really dangerous! Mostly, I want to encourage biking! I think in elementary school, I would have said pretty similarly that I want to support people biking to school. I remember doing Bike to School Day & Bike blenders from elementary school, and that was super fun!”

A desire to make public transit a better transportation option motivates Oakland Technical High School student Reba, who said, “My motivation would be different from elementary school. Now I’m seeing how people get to school and learning more laws about transportation in general, and noticing there is not much bike infrastructure and AC Transit is not always reliable. Doing SR2S is a way to make public transportation more accessible.”

Showing the next generation how to get around

Youth Task Force members are a force for change. They’re inspired to share their love of walking and rolling with younger students in a ripple effect that spreads change throughout Alameda County schools.

Dylan, who goes to Granada High School in Livermore, said, “At first, prior to joining — I am new to the Green Team club — I thought it would be a fun thing to do with my friend, who is an officer. I volunteered to join, not knowing what I was getting into, but after getting into it I saw it as a new opportunity to teach younger students what I wish I would have learned about. I had no idea about transportation’s effect on climate change or our environment because I hadn’t learned about it. I saw this as an opportunity to do so, and I thought that was cool. Now, I get to coordinate things for my current school and for the elementary school I went to. I get to give something back that I didn’t have that I wish I did!”

Jyoshika, an American High School student in Fremont, wants to help her fellow students gain environmental consciousness: “What motivates me now is to spread awareness about clean energy. In elementary school, I didn’t really care about the environment, and I’m really proud I’ve grown past that and am looking into environmental issues. I was a city girl and very into things that cause pollution, and didn’t care, but now I do! More environmental education and events in middle school and high school — I realized it was important!”