Excitement is building as more than 250,000 students from across Australia ditch the car and ride, skate, scoot or walk to school for National Ride2School Day on Wednesday 19 March.Thousands of Australian school communities are encouraging parents, students and staff to leave the car at home and join in the fun by actively travelling to school.
Bicycle Network’s General Manager of Behaviour Change, Ms. Tess Allaway says that encouraging students to ride to school encourages independence and is a crucial part of education and the development of social skills.
“Students who ride to school arrive energised and alert, resulting in higher concentration times than those who don’t,” Ms. Allaway said.
National Ride2School Day is part of Bicycle Network’s Ride2School program which has been running nationally since 2006.
With the rising rate of inactivity levels in children, Ms. Allaway hopes all schools will join in the fun and embrace a healthier lifestyle through active travel.
“Schools that are registered in the Ride2School program have more than double the national average of students riding or walking to school,” Ms. Allaway said.
“National Ride2School Day allows the school community to embrace riding as an active transport alternative and we’re thrilled to have a record number of schools participating this year.
“By celebrating National Ride2School Day and striving to make riding a normal part of the school day, school communities can enjoy all the benefits that actively travelling to school offers.”