Safe Routes Iowa Northland Region

10/13/2026

Everyone Is a Pedestrian! More Pedestrian Safety Tips for National Pedestrian Safety Month!

- Do not rely on others to keep you safe; make eye contact with drivers when possible and wait for a clear, complete stop before crossing.
- Children under 10 are not to cross the street alone. Encourage children to find a walking buddy and let children know who can help them cross the street safely - generally adults or siblings over the age of 12.
- Make a walkability checklist. Walk with family and friends in your community to determine safe and unsafe features on your walk, who uses the walkways, and note any other concerns.

For more information, visit NHTSA.gov/WalkabilityChecklist

10/09/2026

Last ride of the season!

Join the We Ride Bike Series, designed for beginners & casual riders!

🚲 Ride, connect, and explore Waterloo on the 2nd Sunday of each month (May-October), 10am at We Arose Demonstration Garden.

Register: https://bit.ly/weridewaterloo

10/08/2026

Walk Bike and Roll to School

10/07/2026

Join the We Ride Bike Series, designed for beginners & casual riders!

🚲 Ride, connect, and explore Waterloo on the 2nd Sunday of each month (May-October), 10am at We Arose Demonstration Garden.

Register: https://bit.ly/weridewaterloo

10/06/2026

"I used to cry..."

After a 5th grade class today a student shared something with me.

"I was afraid before and didn't want to ride. I remember you coming to school last year. But today I liked it. It was really fun, it is a good thing to me now."

Her lesson to me, don't give up on the reluctant riders. They will get it, all good things are worth it!

10/06/2026

Healthy Choices Count at SRTS! 🥕 We're proud to participate in Iowa's 5-2-1-0 Healthy Choices County Initiative.

Remember: 5 fruits & veggies, 2 hours or less screen time, 1 hour physical activity, and 0 sugary drinks.

Check out October's newsletter for tips!

#5210

10/05/2026

Everyone Is a Pedestrian! This month during National Pedestrian Safety Month - we will be sharing Pedestrian and Driver Safety Tips each week.

· Whether walking to work, school, errands, or just for exercise, at some point in the day, everyone is a pedestrian.

· When it comes to keeping pedestrians safe, everyone has a responsibility — pedestrians, drivers, and all those who use our roads.

For more information, visit NHTSA.gov/PedestrianSafety.

10/04/2026

Walk & Roll to School Day is October 7, and Safe Routes Partnership has everything you need to celebrate! Download Canva templates, Spotify playlists, and more from our resource library: https://ow.ly/Z0Rx50ZSXQc
Don't forget to register your festivities with Walk, Bike & Roll to School so your efforts get counted toward the national movement. Every school that participates helps show the world that safe routes to school are possible year-round

10/02/2026

Send off celebration begins at 8:30am from Veteran's Memorial Hall and Soldiers/Sailors Park in Waterloo. Everyone is welcome to join!

Join us for the American Discovery Trail 250 Relay coming to Cedar Rapids this Saturday, October 3!
🔴⚪️🔵 Walk, run, or bike the Cedar Valley Nature Trail--part of the American Discovery Trail--and celebrate America's 250th birthday with the ADT 250 Relay. 🔴⚪️🔵

Participants are carrying three batons containing the Declaration of Independence in this cross-country relay, which started in California on July 4 and is making its way to Washington, D.C.

The relay leaves Waterloo at 8 a.m. Saturday, with refreshment stops in Gilbertville and Center Point. You can join the fun anytime along the route, including Robins, Hiawatha, or Cedar Rapids.

Saturday, October 3:
🔴⚪️🔵 2 p.m. Informal Welcome at the Wagon on Cedar Lake
🔴⚪️🔵 4 p.m. Official Welcome at Greene Square in front of the American Discovery Trail mural, with free family and community activities at the square
🔴⚪️🔵 5 p.m. The celebration continues with specials at downtown restaurants and bars

Sunday, October 4:
🔴⚪️🔵 8 a.m. Sendoff for relay participants at the Alliant Energy LightLine™ near Mount Trashmore
🔴⚪️🔵 8:30 a.m. ADT 250 Relay heads to West Branch

American Discovery Trail asks participants to register at discoverytrail.org
Participation in the relay and at all local events is FREE.

Celebrate this beautiful coast-to-coast trail that passes through Cedar Rapids and our country's 250th birthday in a once-in-a-lifetime event! 🔴⚪️🔵

10/01/2026

October is National Pedestrian Safety Month!

At some point every day, we’re all pedestrians. Whether you’re behind the wheel or on foot, we all play a role in keeping our roads safe.

In 2024, pedestrians accounted for 18% of all traffic fatalities in the U.S. Help keep everyone safe by:

🚗 Slowing down and staying alert
🚸 Always stopping for pedestrians in crosswalks
🏫 Using extra caution near schools and neighborhoods
🌙 Watching carefully in low-light and nighttime conditions
📵 Staying focused and avoiding distractions
🚫 Never passing a vehicle stopped at a crosswalk

With Halloween approaching and more families out walking, October is a great reminder to slow down, look twice, and watch for pedestrians.

Learn more: NHTSA.gov/Pedestrian