On your bike for national Ride2School Day

TORQUAY Coast Primary School pupils are joining students from around Australia in taking part in tomorrow’s National Ride2School Day.
PE teacher Modesty Kneebone said riding to school had many benefits.

“Riding to school leads to an increase in fitness, stronger links to the community and bike safety,” she said.

Ms Kneebone said the idea was that if children started healthy habits young, they might continue them into the future.

“We are trying to get the kids to prioritise fitness,” she said.

Riding to school can encourage children to integrate incidental exercise into their routine.

More than 350,000 students across Australia are set to ride, scoot, skate or walk to school on Bicycle Network’s National Ride2School Day on Friday, March 19.

Bicycle Network general manager of public affairs, Anthea Hargreaves, said National Ride2School Day is a great time to start going to school the healthy way.

“National Ride2School Day is a fun way for students and parents to experience the joy of riding a bike,” she said.
“There’s no better time to make riding to school part of your routine.”

Ms Hargreaves said riding to school was free, fun and could also help students perform better in the classroom.

“Studies have shown students arrived at school energised, alert and more ready to learn,” she said.

“If you got a new bike or dusted off your old one during 2020, it will love to get a ride on National Ride2School Day.

“The day is a great introduction to the wider program and can be the catalyst to creating a school of healthy, active students.”

Organisers hope participation numbers in 2021 will beat last year’s, after a VicHealth survey found more than one in four Victorian households with kids had been doing more walking or bike riding during coronavirus.

At Torquay Coast Primary School, 60-70 per cent of pupils engage in “active travel” each week which includes walking, riding, scooting and skating.
Students collate the data and the winning year level gets to ring the school bell.

“Grade Five and Grade Six students are usually more active and independent so they are the ones to beat. Although Grade Two won last week, ” Ms Kneebone said.

The school also teaches students about road safety and other hazards which includes swooping plovers on the oval during spring.