Bicycle Network is calling on Tasmanian parents to break the cycle of inactivity and make 2018 the year of the bike with the help of Ride2School’s free learn-to-ride Parent Portal.
Ride2School’s Parent Portal is a new, interactive guidebook with all the information parents need to teach children to ride, plan a safe route to school and travel independently.
It comes after a new report showed that two-thirds of children are driven to school because parents believe getting children to ride is difficult and dangerous.
Spokesperson Alison Hetherington Bicycle Network is making it easier for Australian students to start riding to school and reach their recommended 60 minutes of exercise each day.
“Ride2School’s Parent Portal addresses all the concerns mums and dads have about their children riding to school, from making sure a bike is in good condition, that children are confident to ride and that they can ride on a path away from the road,” said Ms Hetherington.
“With videos, checklists and FAQs, all of your bike riding queries are covered. With help from our Ride2School program, there is no reason why any student shouldn’t be able to begin riding this term.”
As well as making sure children get their recommended daily dose of exercise, riding to school has many benefits, including saving travel time for parents and developing children’s independence.
It also results in better school reports, with studies showing that students who are active pay more attention in class and perform better at subjects including reading and maths.
“Students that ride to school arrive energised and ready to learn. They’re happier and develop healthy habits that stick around for life,” added Ms Hetherington.
Ride2School is currently supported by the Tasmanian Government, however funding is about to expire with no commitment yet to continue the highly succesful program. Ride2School funding is a key ask of Bicycle Network’s state election campaign, #VoteBikeTas.
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