Bike, Bus, Walk Week Challenge doubles participation

The event was initiated by Ozark Greenways Inc., a nonprofit citizens group that works to preserve and enhance the area’s greenspace. There were more than twice the number of participants this year.

Winners of this year’s challenge were:

• McBride Elementary School in the primary schools division, with 51 students participating;

• the city of Springfield in the large business division, with 28 participants;

• Butler, Rosenbury & Partners Inc. in the medium business division, with 64 participants; and

• Community Foundation of the Ozarks in the small business division, with 10 employees participating.

Winners were determined based on number of participants and their frequency of participation, according to program coordinator Lori Tack.

“We had such an amazing increase this year,” Tack said. “Things aren’t going to change overnight, but it just gets people thinking about (our) options.”

City Utilities provided 788 free bus rides during the week to people traveling with a bike, and Ozark Greenways this year introduced a Web site within the www.ozark

greenways.org site about alternative transportation.

This story originally appeared in SBJ’s June 6 free e-news Daily Update. Click here to register.