Dave Yoder for The New York Times

Gianfranco Frizzera, a volunteer in a program aimed at reducing vehicle

emissions,walked children to school through a cemetery in Lecco, Italy.

Maybe it's the spring weather, maybe it's the economy. Whatever the reason, walking and biking issues are getting a lot of national press these days. Two recent articles in The New York Times share what we already know about Portland and biking and share some inspiring news from efforts in Italy to promote more walking to school. Both are worth a read. If you look carefully at the pictures from the Portland article you'll notice one of our own Bike and Pedestrian Safety Ambassadors, Carl Larson, is featured riding over the Broadway Bridge.

• Portland, Portland Style: Touring by Bicycle, by Matt Furber, Published: April 3, 2009
• Students Give Up Wheels for Their Own Two Feet, by Elisabeth Rosenthal, Published: March 27, 2009