Bicycle Network’s Ride2School program has been ramped up in Tasmania now that Michael Haynes has joined the team as the co-ordinator.
With renewed funding from the State Government through the road safety levy, the aim is to substantially increase the number of primary school children riding and walking to school.
The national Ride2School team, led by Jeff McPhan, visited 13 schools in three days from August 28 to 30 to brief teachers and students on the program’s successes.
They rolled out the full program at four schools – St Leonards and Trevallyn in Launceston, and Clarendon Vale and Sorell in the South – with more than 100 students participating.
St Leonards has a strong bike-riding culture, which has been further encouraged by bike lanes on St Leonards Rd.
Next week, St Helens District School on the East Coast will get the full Ride2School treatment. The program’s partners, the RACT, will also be represented at the event.
Last year the RACT put in $20,000 to keep Ride2School going to the end of the school year.
With school holidays beginning on 29 September, Michael is now preparing the program for term four when schools return on October 17.
There will be a repeat of the highly successful bike skills day at East Devonport and a similar event at Dru Point at Margate in the South.