By Natalee Kerr
Geelong school kids are set to pedal towards a healthier lifestyle after the State Government announced a $1.4 million funding boost to the Ride2School program.
Twenty-one schools across Geelong registered in the program are set to benefit through a range of initiatives including building new bike sheds and active paths.
Geelong students are some of the most active in the state with an active travel rate of 49 per cent, 7 per cent higher than the state average.
Bicycle Network’s Anthea Hargreaves said the Geelong data was impressive.
“It’s brilliant to see students in the Geelong region so active and we would love to further grow that number,” she said.
“Every child in Australia should get 60 minutes of physical activity a day and riding a bike is the easiest way to do that.”
Ride2School is a national behaviour change initiative that works directly with schools to increase the number of students walking and riding to school.
One in two students across Geelong schools who participate in the annual Ride2School Day either ride, walk, scoot or skate regularly to school.
Ocean Grove’s Surfside Primary School is the best performing school in the region with an active travel rate of 50 per cent, according to the Bicycle Network.
The recent re-funding will allow the program to continue in Victoria until at least 2022.
