County Safe Routes to School - Fall Walk and Wheel Challenge

Mesa County Regional Transportation Planning Office (RTPO) wrapped up the first Walk & Wheel Challenge since the launch of the mobile app in August. Parents of students attending District 51 elementary and middle schools were encouraged to download the app and log active trips to and from school from September 12 to October 28. Throughout the course of the contest, there were 1,400 trips logged in the app from 24 different schools. Participating students could earn prizes for meeting three different trip goals; prizes included a Mesa County Safe Routes character sticker, sweet treat from a local bakery or coffee shop, and one free youth admission to the Fruita Community Center.

Each year schools around the country are encouraged to walk or roll to school twice per year for National Walk or Bike to School Day; the first Wednesday in May and the first Wednesday in October. RTPO staff set up a challenge between D51 schools to encourage students to use active modes to get to school. At the end of the contest, schools logged their participation in a Google Form; overall eight schools reported a total of 840 kids participating in the October Walk & Roll Day. Congratulations to Lincoln Orchard Mesa Elementary who had 240 students participate, the school received new recess equipment valued at $200!