Australia’s schools were abuzz with sounds of laughter and turning wheels as students around the country embraced National Ride2School Day 2024 on March 22.
The day is Australia’s biggest celebration of active travel and hundreds of thousands of students, parents and teachers joined in the fun.
Bike were decorated and tuned-up, there were breakfast BBQs and stickers were handed out with the help of student volunteers. Bike racks were jam-packed in schools big and small.
At Merri-bek Primary School in Coburg, Melbourne, the kids took the party to the street, claiming the road space with chalk drawings and hula-hooping while parents gathered, chatted and soaked up the atmosphere.
“The beautiful weather encouraged almost 85 of our students to get up early and ride, scoot or skate to school,” says Sonia Boots, art teacher and young leader coordinator at Reservoir Primary School.
“With an energetic buzz in the air, students enjoyed the obstacle course provided by Bicycle Network, and it certainly raised the energy levels and enthusiasm this Friday.”
Physical activity rates have declined at an alarming rate since the 1970s, when three out of four kids rode or walked bikes to school. Just one in four students travel actively to school today.
Bicycle Network’s Ride2School team works year-round to reverse this trend and encourage healthy habits that last a lifetime.
National Ride2School Day is an annual culmination of these efforts and one that amplifies the message, inspiring more and more kids to ride to school each year.
“This event helped encourage so many more families to bike ride, skate, or scoot to school today,” says Boots.
The future of our Ride2School program is under threat as its funding through the Victorian Government came to an end in 2023. You can donate to support the program and help kids get active here.
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