Photo

Students in schools in Dublin and some in Pleasanton and Livermore joined this week in an Alameda County-wide two-week program to walk, ride their bikes or carpool to their schools.

More than 60 schools are competing in the "Pollution Solution Golden Sneaker Contest" as part of the county's Safe Routes to Schools Program. The two-week contest kicks off today and encourages families to get active while reducing pollution. Families that live too far away to walk or bike to school can still join in the contest by parking several blocks away and walking to school together, taking the bus, or carpooling.

"This contest motivates families to start walking or biking to school in a fun, community-building way," said Supervisor Scott Haggerty, chairman of the Alameda County Transportation Commission.

"It supports our efforts to reduce congestion and greenhouse gas emissions, while promoting safe access to schools," Haggerty said.

At the end of the two-week contest, the winning classroom in each school will receive the program's Golden Sneaker trophy. In addition, the school with the greatest increase in green transportation modes during the contest will be honored by the Transportation Commission at its March 28 meeting.

The contest is sponsored by the Alameda County Safe Routes to Schools program, which is funded by both the county's and the Metropolitan Transportation commissions.

For more information, contact Nora Cody, director of Safe Routes to Schools at (510) 213-4496 or nora@transformca.org.

Participating schools in Dublin are Dublin High School and Dougherty, Green, Kolb and Murray elementary schools.

Participating schools in Livermore are Junction K-8 and East Avenue Middle schools and Jackson Avenue, Rancho Las Positas and Emma C. Smith elementary schools.

Participating schools in Pleasanton include Foothill High School, and Lydiksen and Mohr elementary schools.

The Tri-Valley school program is under the direction of task force liaison Rosie Mesterhazy.

Are you receiving Express, our free daily e-mail edition? See a sample and sign-up for Express.