A safer Ride2School for Victorian students

Published date: 13 Mar 2020

The Victorian Government is encouraging more students to cycle to school safely with Ride2School Day reaching more than 100 additional schools across the state.

Minister for Roads, Road Safety and the TAC Jaala Pulford visited North Melbourne Primary School this morning as part of Ride2School Day to see how students plan their journey to school safely.

North Melbourne Primary School is one of over 430 schools around the state partnering with Bicycle Network to make riding to school a safer and more attractive mode of transport for students.

The ‘Active and Safe Travel’ project funded by the Transport Accident Commission aims to improve road safety by educating drivers about how to share the roads with cyclists and teaching students about safe riding practices.

Around a third of North Melbourne Primary students are driven to school, which is why the project also includes active transport maps to encourage more families to leave the car at home and ride instead.

National Ride2School Day is part of the Ride2School Program, which works with schools to remove barriers to cycling and promote active travel. The program funds a range of projects from bicycle-parking facilities and sheds to identifying safe routes to and from school.

The Victorian Government recently expanded the popular Ride2School program, with schools across the state benefitting from the $1.4 million funding boost.

Studies show that one in four children are not getting enough exercise and an early ride or walk to school is a great way to ensure students are energised and ready to start learning from the first bell.

Schools participating in the program have more than double the national average of students walking and riding to school. Last year alone around 350,000 students rode to school.

The TAC’s annual community grants program provides funding to projects developed and implemented by not-for-profit community groups and local councils across Victoria and round one of 2020 funding opens in April. Find out more about the Community Grants Program.

Quotes attributable to Minister for Road Safety and the TAC Jaala Pulford

“We want kids right across Victoria to get active and ride to school – that’s why safety programs like this are so important.”

“By working with local schools like North Melbourne Primary School, we can improve safety for people riding on our roads.”

Quote attributable to Minister for Sport Martin Pakula

“Ride2School Day is a fun way for students and parents to get active and experience the joy of riding a bike – that’s why we’ve expanded the program to more than 100 extra schools across Victoria.”

Quotes attributable to TAC Lead Director Road Safety, Samantha Cockfield

“Improving road safety on Victoria’s roads is a shared responsibility and it’s fantastic to see the North Melbourne Primary School community playing a pivotal role in identifying and improving issues in their local area.”

“Road trauma can have a far reaching impact on local communities and these community grants will help reduce the risk and impact on local roads.”