Missoula, Montana was recently named Ninth in the category of "Greenest Commuter Towns" by AARP. This was based on a 2007 Census Bureau Estimate that 8.91% of Missoulians bike or walk to work.
Missoula promotes biking and walking to work with Missoula in Motion - a program designed to help local businesses, institutions and individuals address transportation issues within the Missoula community. Missoula in Motion has a Way to Go Club as a special way to reward those throughout the community who are choosing a different option than driving alone in their cars. You can join free at http://missoulainmotion.com/.
The other towns that ranked in this AARP report include:
1.) Ithaca, NY - 16.88%
2.) State College, PA 12.75
3.) Corvallis, OR 12.03
4.) Jacksonville, NC 11.14
5.) Ames, Iowa 10.67
6.) Iowa City, Iowa 9.68
7.) Flagstaff, AZ 9.47
8.) Champaign-Urbana, Ill 8.98
9.) Missoula, MT 8.91
10.) Ann Arbor, Mich 3.21
Source - AARP Magazine, Census Bureau 2007 Results
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Kevin & Monica Ray are real estate sales and marketing professionals for Access Realty in beautiful Western Montana. For more information on Western Montana, they can be reached at 406-207-1185 or online at www.YourMT.com.
Those are pretty interesting although I don't think I would have thought NY would make that list...Ithica I believe is a college town which might help it's stats. Thanks for an interesting read.
Thanks for sharing this list! Interesting to note that four of the ten cities (State College, Iowa City, Champaign-Urbana, and Ann Arbor) are home to Big Ten universities.
Hi Carole - thanks for the note, I was actually surprised about several of the towns on the list.
John - I see your point, I bet there is something to the college environment. Missoula is the home to the University of Montana and is very college oriented also.
I find it interesting that Californians think everything starts here and when you look at this list, the midwest is well represented. We have a way to go California.
I love Missoula. That town is so awesome! What I love most though? The Staggering Ox's sandwiches! :)
Hi Terrylynn - that is interesting, I would have thought California would have ranked higher also.
Casey - I agree, Missoula is great. And you're right, the Staggering Ox has awesome sandwiches, that's the only place I have ever seen that kind of bread.