Healthy Northland works to make the healthy choice, the easy choice. How do we know if what we are doing works? All the work we do has evidence behind it - we only use strategies that have been proven to work. In 2018, we wanted to dig a little deeper to show the impact these strategies are having locally. In... Continue Reading
In Duluth, Minn., residents don’t have to look far to find an excuse not to use a bicycle for transportation. Duluth is a city on a hill, with a steep incline facing cyclists on most trips. Nestled along the shores of Lake Superior, the weather is unpredictable and sometimes severe. Because of these perceived barriers, many Duluthians are missing... Continue Reading
Getting to your destination by bike is easier than ever in Grand Rapids, Minn., thanks to a new community bike share. Just check out a bike at one of four locations around the city and take it to your next destination – free of charge. The program debuted in the fall of 2017, and the bikes traveled 240 miles in... Continue Reading
Bike lanes, sharrows and bump-outs became a reality in Cloquet through an Active Places Demonstration Project Grant from BlueCross and Blue Shield’s Center for Prevention. This funding ($5,000) was leveraged through Statewide Health Improvement Partnership (SHIP) work in Cloquet. The Active Transportation Coalition in Cloquet has been active since 2012 and helped to prioritize the project in hopes to lead... Continue Reading
Minnesota elementary school students who met national recommendations for aerobic fitness are more likely to have a healthy weight and have better academic outcomes than students who didn’t meet those recommendations. That’s according to a study of 14 elementary schools in central and northern Minnesota who are involved with the Active Schools Minnesota initiative, which assists students in reaching the national... Continue Reading
Do you ever find yourself thinking about how great it would be to bike to work or school? You aren’t alone. Bike communing has grown by 62% from 2000 to 2013! You know you would get great exercise, be kind to the environment, and even save money! But then something gets in your way. You realize you don’t want to get... Continue Reading
Keep yourself safe while biking! Wear a helmet and make sure it fits correctly. Here is some great information from the Minnesota Bicycling Handbook created by the Bicycle Alliance of Minnesota. HELMET POSITION Your helmet should sit level on your head and low on your forehead – one or two finger widths above your eyebrows. SIDE STRAPS Adjust the slider on... Continue Reading
The new Minnesota Bicycling Handbook has a ton of great information, including a guide to buying a bicycle. Here is a summary: Guide to Buying a Bicycle IF spring time has you thinking of getting a new or used bike, these questions will help you decide which kind of bike will serve you best: What type of riding will you do?... Continue Reading
On February 22 three students from Two Harbors High School joined a group from the American Lung Association to lobby at the capitol for stronger tobacco prevention and control. Thank you students! These students were part of the bigger Minnesota Smoke-free Generation Day at the capital. Equipped with stories about how big tobacco targets them, young leaders educated their Representatives... Continue Reading