Students Ditch Their Lifts On National Ride2School Day

Students ditch their lifts on National Ride2School Day

Friday, 23 March 2012 00:00

comments 0

151 hits

Michael Danby
Federal Member for Melbourne Ports

Students of Melbourne Ports today rode their bikes, skateboards and scooters to school for National Ride2School Day, joining an estimated 140,000 students taking part across Australia.

Federal Member for Melbourne Ports commended local students for taking part in the event.

“National Ride2School Day is Australia’s largest celebration of walking and riding to school and has reached more than 700,000 students and over 2000 schools across the country since it began in 2007,” Mr Danby said.

“It’s fantastic to see so many young people reaping the benefits of physical activity today, particularly when only around 20 percent of Australian school kids regularly walk or ride their bike to school.

“We can do better. It is important we encourage friends, family and community members to get our kids out and about and make sure they become just as active as children were back in the 1970’s - when 80 percent of school children walked or rode to school.

“Riding or walking is also a zero emissions activity, so local school children can be proud that by engaging in this simple activity we are reducing both our carbon footprint and congestion on our roads.  

“Hopefully Melbourne Ports students will be inspired to ride or walk to school every day.”

Participating schools engaged students in a range of activities such as bike and helmet decoration competitions, healthy breakfasts and bike maintenance checks.

National Ride2School Day is an initiative of Bicycle Network which began in 2007.  

Further information and resource kits can be found at: www.ride2school.com.au