The South Dakota Transportation Department has given nearly $715,000 to six cities in a program that encourages students to walk and bike to school along safe routes.

The grants are going to Parker, Hartford, Sioux Falls, Brookings, Harrisburg and DeSmet. The money from the second round of federal funding in the Safe Routes To School program will help 18 schools in those cities.

The program includes educational activities that encourage kids to walk or bike to school safely and small projects that fill gaps in existing pedestrian and bicycle routes. The Safe Routes to School program was set up by Congress to fight increasing obesity and diabetes among children.