Walking regularly has shown to be helpful preventative fighters of killers, such as heart disease and cancer. We understand with the time and weather change; you might be less inclined to be outside. We have some tips for you!

Dressing for cold weather is easier than ever with all the great high tech fabrics currently available. If you are walking in the dark, be sure to wear brighter reflective color so that drivers and cyclists can see you.

Dry feet make a huge difference in walking comfort, especially when walking in the rain. You can waterproof your shoes or boots yourself with a simple treatment.

Don’t forget your umbrella as you run out the door!

Too far to walk in the rain and need to get downtown? Take the Flyer Shuttle! This is a neighborhood friendly shuttle that will take you only downtown. Don’t waste your time sitting in traffic – it’s only $1.50. NorthNatomasTMA.org

Our practically famous Bike Doc is on tour again and will be making an appearance at the Creekside Fair (Kokomo Park - 4801 Kokomo Drive) on Sunday, October 16th from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. If you have missed this fix-it-up show in the past, we encourage you to stop by and give your velocipede a mini-makeover and tune-up. You’ll probably get some quick DIY tips and tricks, too. Please note that, as always, bikes will be repaired on a first-come, first-served basis and getting there early is recommended so that our mechanics have enough time to give your bike the proper diagnosis. Only one bicycle per person, please. Have questions? Call us at 916-419-9955.

Take your bike out for a joy ride on September 17th around West Sacramento (27 miles). It will be a fun time in the sun enjoying a ride with great company. Roll through downtown West Sacramento, around the commercial corridor, over the Deep Water Channel, and nab a table at Nugget Market for goodies in Southport - hosted by the TMA. On the way back, we’ll take in ski boats, the Riverfront Promenade and cruise by the Crocker Art Museum as we head for home. No need to RSVP – just show up! Meet at the NNTMA office, 1960 Del Paso Road, and the group will depart at 8:30 a.m. Of course, don’t forget to bring your helmet, water, and an extra tube in case you get a flat!

If you’d rather stay in North Natomas, pedal on over to the North Natomas Library (4660 Via Ingoglia located off Del Paso Road). Bike Doc will be making another "house call." So, bring out the old two-wheeler and bike mechanics will give it a facelift on Saturday, September 17th from 10 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Bikes will be repaired on a first-come, first-served basis. We recommend coming early so the mechanics have enough time to give your bike the proper diagnosis. One bicycle per person, please. For more information, please call the North Natomas TMA, 916-419-9955.

Riding the Flyer Shuttle helps you save your gas money for other fun things – vacations, concerts, sports. It’s easy to use – wave at the shuttle as it nears and jump on! Neighborhood-friendly – an opportunity to meet your North Natomas neighbors – imagine that! Bike-friendly – shuttles are equipped with bike racks so you have the opportunity to ride your bike to lunch, or even cycle home. It provides convenient links with other transportation options – cycling, walking, transit. Best of all, ride FREE on Spare the Air Days – need we say more???

For more information, call the North Natomas TMA, 419-9955 or visit our website NorthNatomasTMA.org.

Last month the Sacramento region pedaled their way passed a million cumulative miles in the regional May is Bike Month challenge, and North Natomas businesses and residents got down to biking business by contributing approximately 54,000 miles toward the goal. North Natomas participants took part in the TMA’s annual Bike to Work Day breakfast, BikeFest at the Capitol, a 24 mile Ride Around the Airport, and five Smart Cycling clinics. Local area students joined in, too, with Regency Park Elementary School taking first place for the most miles logged by a school. Way to get up and go!

Another milestone for May? North Natomas students increased their cumulative miles logged by 31% for a total of 44,864.

Last but not least, TMA’s Board President, Derek Chernow, was proud to accept a Bicycle Friendly Business award for the Department of Conservation. Many Sacramento businesses were nominated last month for this honor and 35 businesses were selected region-wide. Congratulations, Derek and the whole department!

"Life is like riding a bicycle - in order to keep your balance, you must keep moving." -Albert Einstein

Would you like smart tips for cycling around Natomas? We have a bike clinic just for you! These free clinics offer great information for new riders and helpful reminders for seasoned ones. Information provided includes strategies for biking safely and predictably, rules of the road including lane positioning and other essentials for riding defensively. Two clinics will be offered in May at the North Natomas Library: May 10th at 6 p.m. (open to all); and May 25th at 6 p.m. (for parents and their children).

After learning these life-saving tips and skills, you will be pumped and ready to join us in May as we strive for the goal of a million miles cycled. This regional campaign, also called “Million Mile May,” encourages cycling as an alternative form of transportation to improve air quality and promote health. Adults and children can participate by choosing pedal power over the car for commuting to work, school and errands. Even recreational riding counts! To learn more about the campaign and how logging your miles enters you to win weekly prizes, visit www.MayIsBikeMonth.com for more information or contact North Natomas TMA at (916) 419-9955.

We are so excited to start work on these donated bikes. We look forward to giving them back to Natomas students. 17 bikes have already been repaired!

This is your last chance! Clear out your garage and donate your old bike to the North Natomas TMA before February 15th. Donated bikes will be repaired and tuned up - ready to ride on the road. North Natomas school students will be the recipients of the refurbished bikes, just in time for May is Bike Month.

Our goal with the Bike Donation Drive is to encourage more students to ride their bikes to school, to friends’ houses, and to run errands. In the bigger picture, we hope this will influence their lives, and help create cycling as a lifestyle.

The North Natomas TMA is a 501(c)(6) non-profit organization. Contributions are not deductible as charitable contributions on the donor’s federal income tax return. For more information, please contact the North Natomas TMA at 419-9955.

Congratulations Heron School for taking the “cool way to school” on Friday October 8th, for International Walk to School Day and Family Breakfast. What a great turn out – 333 kids walked or biked to school. That’s excellent and we hope students and families will be motivated to continue walking or biking to school throughout the year.

There are many benefits of walking or biking to school. Walking and biking to school empowers your children and teaches self confidence. It can be a highlight of their day. They are able to connect with parents or friends and get ready for a day of learning. Major benefits to your children include improving cardiovascular circulation and improved attention and alertness for class. Children need at least one hour of moderate to vigorous activity a day. Walking or biking to school is a step closer in achieving this goal.

The more children walk, the safer it will become. Just think, if you drive your children to school less, there will be fewer cars on the road, reducing congestion and driver frustration. Driving less will also result in cleaner air that you breathe. Not only is it good for our personal health, but it’s good for our planet. Driving less saves you money! Making fewer trips will save on gas and wear and tear on your car. You’d be surprised how much it all adds up, even if you live a block from the school.

So, what are you waiting for? Join the movement – participate in Footloose Fridays. Better yet, make it a habit – walk or bike to school everyday!

Calling all walkers and bikers! Natomas Park Elementary's Walking Wednesdays program is off to a great start for this school year. Principal Johnson invited us back to Natomas Park Elementary because of the success of the program last year.

How does the program work? Walking Wednesdays is designed to reward children who use other modes of transportation to get to school: walking and biking. Frequent walker/biker cards will only be given to those children who participate. Every Wednesday, your child should come to the Walking Wednesday table in the courtyard to get their card hole punched. Every other week, they will receive a new charm to put on their Walking Wednesday key chain.

Now that the student body has increased, so has the participation. Last year when we kicked off the Walking Wednesdays program, 211 students came out. This year, 260 kids participated in the first Walking Wednesday. Way to go! Keep up the good work Coyotes!

May is Bike Month was a huge success - our best year ever! 8 local North Natomas schools cycled a total of 34,160 miles! Way to Go! Regency Park Elementary School logged 9,468 miles and is the top school in the region. They won the North Natomas TMA perpetual trophy as well as a plaque from the Sacramanto Area Council of Governments (SACOG) for being the region’s top school. Regency Park Elementary’s participation calculated out to be 52% of the student body riding weekly.

Here are the standings for all other participating North Natomas schools:
Witter Ranch Elementary - 4,925 Miles 35% participation weekly
Heron School - 3,971 Miles 30% participation weekly
Natomas Park Elementary School - 3,872 Miles 31% participation weekly
H. Allen Hight Elementary School - 3,476 Miles 31% participation weekly
Westlake Charter School - 3,335 Miles 37% participation weekly
Leading Edge Program - 3,142 Miles 49% participation weekly
Performing and Fine Arts Academy - 1,971 Miles 32% participation weekly

Keep up the good work! Remember that biking instead of driving is a great way to keep our air clean, great for your body and spirit and it’s tons of fun!

Rain or shine first grader Alexander Akin has walked to school every Footloose Friday for the last 14 weeks. Alexander’s mom tells us he is so excited to walk on Fridays that he gets up early and runs half way to school. He gets really excited when it’s raining outside on Footloose Fridays because it’s a great adventure walking to school! His mom, dad and even dog, Pearl, often join him on his walk to school. They have valued their time as a family when they walk to school and have found it much more enjoyable than driving in the car. When he arrives on campus he heads to the quad to get his card punched and picks out a token. He is a great role model for his friends because walking and biking to school builds a greater sense of community and kick starts a super day of learning.

Way to go, Alexander!

The North Natomas TMA just kicked off a wonderful bike safety program called Project Ride Smart at Heron Elementary. In partnership with Heron’s Physical Education teacher, Mrs. Vigil, cycling instructors are teaching this course which is a part of the 4th and 5th graders physical education. Children will learn skills including bike control, safety, awareness, rules of the road, and much more. The kids are very excited to get on their bikes and to learn the rules of the road! This valuable information will benefit these children for many years to come.

Heron School's SAFETY with HELMETS NIGHT – a success!!
9/25/2009

The North Natomas Transportation Management Association, in partnership with the PTSA and Natomas Unified School District, sponsored a Safety with Helmets night at Heron School. Hundreds of families came to the event, and over 300 helmets were given away or replaced! Students were asked to bring their helmets if they had one, and every helmet was inspected for damage and fitted correctly. If a student did not have a helmet, or their helmet needed to be replaced, they were given one for FREE.

The event included a safety presentation for students to learn the importance of wearing a helmet and traffic safety questions presented by our local police department, among other fun activities. Free dinner was also provided.

Here is what a couple of the participants wrote about the event, “Thanks for the helmets! Great information for the kids!” and, “This is the best party ever and thanks for the helmet”.

The success of Safety with Helmets Night compliments the school’s focus on encouraging students to get to and from school by walking, biking, scooting or skating. Each Friday, or Footloose Friday, students are encouraged to join the walking school bus, where parent volunteers walk groups of students to school. Parents can drop off their students starting at a ‘meet-up zone’, or join the group on their journey.

For questions or information on how to get involved, please contact:
Mellissa Meng
School Programs Manager with the North Natomas TMA
916-416-9955
mellissa@nntma.org

New School Year, More Programs
8/6/2009

The 2009/10 school year is shaping up to be an active year for students and families attending North Natomas schools. The TMA is working with the seven elementary and middle schools in the area to initiate and continue programs encouraging children and their families to walk and bike to school. The reason for the effort is simple; to promote healthy, safe children, improve air quality and reduce vehicle congestion. Walking and biking to school is one of the best ways to reach this goal.