Walk, ride and roll winners named

COAST CITIES — The SANDAG iCommute program named two schools from North County as outstanding role models for choosing healthy and sustainable ways to get around, such as carpooling, biking, walking, and using public transit.Winners of the 2013 Walk, Ride and Roll to School Challenge include
a first-place award of $1,000 to Flora Vista Elementary School, and second place win of $750 to Ocean Knoll Elementary School, both in Encinitas. The schools receive a check for classroom supplies. Flora Vista Elementary School achieved 75 percent participation, logging 1,612 miles in alternative commutes. Ocean Knoll Elementary School attained 39 percent participation, logging 1,079 miles in alternative commutes.

Thirty-nine local organizations representing more than 82,000 employees participated in this year’s Rideshare Corporate Challenge. Throughout October, participants logged alternative commute trips online in the iCommute TripTracker tool. They helped to achieve substantial environmental savings:

— 13.2 million vehicle miles not traveled, enough to circle the Earth 534 times

— 575,420 gallons of gasoline saved, which amounts to almost $2.3 million in fuel savings

— 11.6 million pounds of carbon dioxide emissions avoided, equivalent to emissions from electricity use by 448 homes in one year

Also in October, a record-breaking 47 schools took part in the Walk, Ride, and Roll to School Challenge. Collectively, they represented more than 30,000 students countywide. Overall, participants logged 8,582 miles in the iCommute TripTracker tool during the challenge.

The Walk, Ride, and Roll to School Challenge was made possible by iCommute Annual Partners: San Diego Zoo and San Diego County Bicycle Coalition, and Event Presenting Partner: Chipotle Mexican Grill. Rideshare 2013 was supported by Annual Transportation Partners: Metropolitan Transit System, North County Transit District, and Caltrans, as well as Event Supporters Enterprise Rideshare and vRide.