Cycling for children
School programs
TravelSmart to School
The TravelSmart to School program works with primary schools to increase the number of children using active transport to school and decrease the number of trips made to school in private motor vehicles.
This program is currently undergoing redevelopment. A pilot project will be rolled out in 2010.
For more information on the program visit the Department'sTravelSmart pages.
make tracks2school
Piloted in 2007, the make tracks2school program aimed to encourage children aged 10-12 years and their families to walk or cycle to school more often.
The program was developed in response to the Child and Adolescent Physical Activity and Nutrition Survey (CAPANS) 2003, which found that more than one quarter of Western Australian children and young people were overweight or obese and only a third were walking or cycling to school.
The make tracks2school pilot project, which was conducted for the first time in Term 2 (7 May to 1 June) 2007, encouraged children to cycle to school as often as possible over a four-week period, with the aim of achieving a more sustainable behaviour change.
A total of 67 schools, with 275.5 classes and 6,494 students, took part in this new and exciting program.
In 2008, the second make tracks2school program was run by the Heart Foundation (WA) from 27 October - 21 November (Term 4, Weeks 3 - 6).
Final registrations for the 2008 challenge include: 54 schools, 180 classes and 4,800 students in Years 5-7. Funding has been secured to run the challenge in 2009. The third make tracks2school challenge will be run from 26 October to 20 November 2009 (Term 4, Weeks 3 - 6).
The make tracks2school is a collaborative project between the Department of Transport, the Physical Activity Taskforce and the Heart Foundation proudly supported by the Department of Health, Western Australia and the Department of Education and Training.
For further program information, please contact Anna Sheppard at the Heart Foundation on (08) 9382 5939 or via email.
PILOT PROGRAM SURVEY RESULTS
The evaluation of make tracks2school was coordinated by the Heart Foundation in consultation with the Management Committee and Dr Michael Rosenberg from the Health Population Evaluation Unit (HPEU) at the University of Western Australia.
Cycling and walking results were collected from pre and post program travel data and a classroom calendar. School coordinator feedback surveys and qualitative telephone surveys also provided valuable evaluation information.
A comparison of cycling and walking journeys prior to, during and after the program, showed that the number of cycling and walking journeys increased during make tracks2school and journey numbers were sustained in the week following the program.
The post-event evaluation findings indicated that while virtually all children were likely to own a bicycle and helmet, almost 80% did not ride to school.
The students most likely to ride or walk to school were those who lived within a 10 minute cycling (2-3km) and a 10 minute walking (less than a kilometre) radius around the school.
National Ride2School Day
(www.bv.com.au/join-in/125/)
The inaugural National Ride2School Day was held in 2008 and coincided with the annual Bikeweek Cycle to School Day, held in Western Australia since 1995.
The Western Australian primary schools are encouraged by the Department to register for the national event. Visit the National Ride2School Day web page for more information about this initiative.
