Students in grades kindergarten through eighth grade are invited to enter the Minnesota Safe Routes to School’s Bike to School poster contest. Entry deadline is April 20.

Students who enter can design an 8.5 by 11 inch poster that shows how they feel when they ride a bike.

“Pedaling a bike can create some of childhood’s happiest moments and we want to capture that,” said Dave Cowan, Safe Routes to School coordinator at the Minnesota Department of Transportation.

Complete contest information is at www.mndot.gov/mnsaferoutes. Winners will receive their choice of several bicycle products, including a bike rack and public bike pump, for placement at their school.

Winners will be announced prior to the national Bike to School Day May 4.

Cowan said schools can register to participate in the Bike to School event by going to www.walkbiketoschool.org.

Bike to School activities include bike rodeos, free breakfast for participants, raffle prizes, drop-off zones for kids to bike to school, bike rides with parent chaperones, bike maintenance clinics and a bike swap. For more ideas, visit www.mnsaferoutestoschool.org.

MnDOT is offering Bike to School encouragement kits to schools that register. Kits include bike lights, zipper pulls, promotional posters, educational bookmarks and “I Bike to School” stickers. A limited number of kits is available.

Minnesota Safe Routes to School is an effort to improve walking and bicycling conditions for youth and encourage more active lifestyles. MnDOT and many partners across the state work together to help schools and communities develop Safe Routes to School programs.