Greater Mercer Transportation Management Association announced that the team from Hopewell Elementary group won the “Step into Spring” contest. The group used NJ Walking School Bus App to organize walks with their children to and from school. Together they have walked a total of 591 trips, 378.78 miles, burned 37,878 calories, and reduced 160,223.94 CO2 emissions.
“We found the app easy to use and my son loves walking to school with his friends,” said Susan P., one of the parents who walked with the group.
The winners will receive a $100 gift card for the group, reflective umbrellas for parents and reflective drawstrings backpacks for students. Additionally, Hopewell Elementary School, as the winning walking school bus school, will receive $250 to be used for safe walking and biking programs.
See also Hopewell Parents and Children First to Step into Spring.
GMTMA would like to thank Sara K., Sheila R. and Susan P., the parents who organized the groups and the principal of the Hopewell Elementary School, David Friedrich, for being a great supporter of walking and biking programs. As the NJ Department of Transportation’s designated regional coordinator for Safe Routes to School efforts, Greater Mercer TMA works to keep children in Mercer and Ocean counties healthy by encouraging them to stay active through walking and biking to school and offering safety education.
For more MercerMe articles on walking school buses, check out this link!
The NJ Walking School Bus App is available to parents and their children in Mercer County and select towns in Ocean County an can be used on both Android and iOS devices. A total of 86 people downloaded the app. There are many walking groups to join or parents can create their own groups and organize walks to and from school.
More details about the app and tutorial are available at www.gmtma.org.
Greater Mercer TMA is a non-profit, public-private partnership dedicated to reducing traffic and improving mobility in and around Mercer and Ocean counties. GMTMA is committed to providing transportation choices that are good for commuters, business, community, and the environment.
NOTE: Mary Galioto, MercerMe founder, publisher and editor is proud to be a member of Hopewell Borough Board of Health which supports and promotes walkability initiatives as an important component to community health.
