Boosting active transport in Lismore

THREE new active transport projects in Lismore will help students get to school safely and improve walking access for all.

The NSW Government has funded the $800,000 North Lismore Connections project, which will deliver safe pathways linking North Lismore residents to the CBD, sports fields, showgrounds, and the planned new Richmond River High Campus.

The Dibbs Street school-to-hospital link will create an active transport route to Lismore Public School and Lismore Base Hospital.

Students at Wiangaree Public School will benefit from a new footpath and upgraded kerbs along Kunghur Street.

Member for Lismore Janelle Saffin welcomed the new projects.

“All of these projects are about making it easier and safer for people to take active transport options, to walk safely to school or link residents to key places,” Saffin said.

“It is projects like this that make it so much easier for our children to walk or ride a bike to school and start a healthy exercise habit that is such a good start in life.”

Data shows that less than one in four NSW schoolchildren currently walk or ride to and from school, with 70 per cent of parents and carers indicating they would like to walk to school with their children most days.

Transport Minister John Graham said there were many benefits for children walking or riding to school.

“It builds independence and self-confidence, improves health and can establish being active as a lifelong pattern,” he said.

“The reduction in traffic congestion on the road network when we have fewer parents in fewer cars doing fewer trips to school is another positive result of kids getting to school on foot or by bike or scooter.”

In the five years from 2019 to 2023, two child pedestrians died and 36 were seriously injured in active school zones.

Minister for Roads and Regional Transport Jenny Aitchison said improving safety was the number one priority.

“We want parents and carers to feel confident to walk, ride and scoot their kids to school – it’s critically important to their mental and physical health,” Aitchison said.

“I encourage parents to leave the car at home and take the time to walk or cycle with their kids.”