Report Shows Increase in Student Walking and Biking

More students are walking and biking to school according to a new report released by the NE Iowa Food and Fitness Initiative.  
The Northeast Iowa Safe Routes to School Spring Travel Tally Report for the 2011-2012 school year has been completed, and is available on the Upper Explorerland Regional Planning Commission (UERPC) website.

The report summarizes how students travel to and from school in Allamakee, Clayton, Chickasaw, Fayette, Howard and Winneshiek counties.

"Currently, 22% of the trips students make to and from school are done by walking and bicycling," said Ashley Christensen, UERPC Safe Routes to School Liaison.  "This is a 4% increase in the number of walking and bicycling trips from last year and a 7% increase since our regional Safe Routes to School work began in 2008. These results highlight how far the Safe Routes to School program has come in just four years, and we are very excited for what the future holds as we continue to enhance and expand our Safe Routes to School efforts throughout the region."

Safe Routes to School efforts in the region aim to increase the number of students walking and bicycling to and from school.  Contact Christensen at achristensen@uerpc.org or 563-382-6171 for more information.