International Walk and Bike to School Day Oct. 4

ST. PAUL, Minn. – Thousands of students in more than 200 schools across Minnesota will participate in International Walk and Bike to School Day Oct. 4. The annual event, sponsored by Minnesota Safe Routes to School, encourages students and parents to get outside, increase their physical activity, teach pedestrian and bicycle safety, reduce traffic congestion and strengthen connections between families, schools and communities while walking and biking to school.

“Walking and biking to school or work are great ways to skip traffic, get a little exercise and enjoy beautiful Minnesota,” said Lt. Governor Tina Smith. “I encourage Minnesota students and their families to participate in Walk and Bike to School Day on Oct. 4. I hope to see you out there.”

Dave Cowan, Walk and Bike to School Day coordinator, said this day gets families, schools and communities thinking about what it might be like if students in their neighborhoods walked and bicycled to school year-round.

“The result is transformative,” said Cowan. “Safely walking and bicycling is an important life skill we should be teaching our youth. This day is a great way to encourage students to use that knowledge all through their lives while building physical activity into their daily routine.”

He said schools can register their Walk and Bike to School Day event at www.walkbiketoschool.org.

Participants can also join in the Walk to School Day photo contest by submitting photos on the MnSRTS Facebook page with the hashtag #mnwalks. Learn more at www.mnsaferoutestoschool.org under the current programs tab.

Cowan said the event is an opportunity for children who typically ride a school bus and those who live in areas with bike friendly paths to school to walk and bike to school. Many schools participate in a “walking school bus” event by arranging for school buses to drop off students at a nearby park or other safe locations to finish the trip on foot. The drop-off option also can be used for students who are usually driven to school in private vehicles. 

Walk to School Day also encourages parents and community members to begin thinking about the walkability and bikeability of their neighborhoods. A walkability checklist helps walkers assess what makes the walking environment inviting and safe, and identify existing barriers. After the assessment, schools and communities can work to make a plan for improvements.

For more information, visit www.walkbiketoschool.org.

MnDOT encourages safety on roads during harvest

ST. PAUL, Minn. — Motorists traveling on Minnesota highways this fall need to be aware of large farm equipment transporting crops to markets, grain elevators and processing plants, according to the Minnesota Department of Transportation. 

“Harvest season is getting in full swing across the state and farmers and their equipment are out on the highways,” said Jay Hietpas, state traffic engineer. “Motorists need to be prepared to encounter slow-moving farm vehicles, especially on rural, two-lane roads.”

Farm equipment is large and heavy, making it hard for operators to accelerate, slow down and stop. The equipment also makes wide turns and sometimes crosses over the center line. In addition, farm vehicles can create large blind spots, making it difficult for operators to see approaching vehicles. All of these factors can cause serious crashes. 

From 2011 to 2015, there were 688 crashes involving farm vehicles that resulted in 23 fatalities and 348 injuries.  Nearly half of the fatalities were an occupant of the farm vehicle.

“Twenty-two percent of all farm equipment crashes and 29 percent of the fatalities were distraction-related,” Hietpas said. “Other factors were speed-related and alcohol-related.”

Motorists should:

·         Watch for debris dropped by trucks hauling sugar beets and other crops. It is safer to brake or slowly drive through debris than to veer into oncoming cars or off the road.

·         When approaching farm equipment, slow down and use caution. Put additional space between your vehicle and the farm equipment ahead. Don’t assume the equipment operator can see you.

·         Be patient and wait for a safe place to pass.

·         Wear seatbelts.

·         Drive with headlights on at all times.

Farm equipment operators should:

·         Use lights and flashers to make equipment more visible.

·         Use slow-moving vehicle emblems on equipment traveling less than 30 mph.

·         Drive slow-moving vehicles in the right-hand lane as close to the edge of the roadway as possible.

·         Consider using an escort vehicle when moving equipment, especially at night and if the equipment is large enough that it may extend across the center line.

·         Avoid encouraging or signaling motorists to pass. Pull over when safe, and let traffic pass.

·         Pick up any debris left on the highway by the equipment or contact MnDOT to remove it.

·         Plan their routes so wide equipment will not hit or damage signs, guardrails, light poles and other roadway structures.

MnDOT gathering input on regional bicycle routes in NW MN

BEMIDJI, Minn. – The Minnesota Department of Transportation is hosting open houses in counties across northwest Minnesota in order to gather input on regional bicycle routes that can be included in a Statewide Bicycle Network.

Area stakeholders are invited to help identify bicycle friendly routes that make meaningful connections in the region. The routes may include existing trails and roadways, and may cross the jurisdictions of the township, city, county and state.

The meetings will be held at the following locations and times:

·         Beltrami County – Sept. 13, 10 a.m., MnDOT District 2 Office, 3920 Highway 2 West, Bemidji

·         Kittson County – Sept. 14, 1 p.m., Kittson County Courthouse, 410 Fifth Street, Hallock

·         Norman County – Sept. 19, 1 p.m., Dekko Community Center, 107 Fourth Avenue East, Ada

·         Polk County – Sept. 20, 10 a.m., Crookston City Hall, 124 North Broadway, Crookston

·         Pennington County – Sept. 20, 6:30 p.m., Ralph Engelstad Arena, 525 Brooks Avenue, Thief River Falls

District 2 comprises over 1,800 miles of state highways across 14 counties and employs approximately 220 people to handle snow and ice control, roadway construction, traffic, land acquisition, business operations, planning, design and other transportation-related duties.

You can learn more about MnDOT District 2, at to www.mndot.gov/d2.