Friday, March 22 was National ‘Ride to School Day,’ Australia’s biggest celebration of active travel, and schools throughout the region, from Seaforth to Sarina, joined more than 870 schools participating nationally.
Ride2School is a nationwide program organised by Bicycle Network, designed to support schools to encourage, empower and enable more students to get physically active on their journey to school, giving them the opportunity to create healthy habits for their future whilst teaching the importance of safe riding.
Statistics suggest that over the past 40 years, the overall number of children who are physically active on a daily basis has significantly declined. In the 1970’s, studies show that eight out of ten students rode or walked to school, but today that number has dropped to just two out of ten.
In light of the program, students and teachers from St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School lined up their bikes and scooters on the day, beginning at the Pioneer Swimming Pool car park in North Mackay, and rolled along the Goose Pond pathway, meeting back at the school to share morning tea.
Assistant Principal, Marcelle Price said, “it’s important for students to learn how to ride their bike to school so they know the road rules and how to keep safe, also having parents come along is a great engagement activity”.
“It’s a great community event where we can all come back and celebrate with morning tea together.”
The Mackay Council funded the free breakfast for St Joseph’s students and families. Local bike company, Corry Cycles also kindly contributed to the program by donating a bike to the Mackay council as a prize for participants.
School captains, Paris Housden and Will Casey said “Thank you to the Mackay Council for donating the morning tea and thank you to Cory Cycles as well”.
“We organise this for health and fitness and also because we need to be safe on the roads and be safe when we ride to school.”
St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School students, parents and teachers gathered at Pioneer Swimming Pool carpark to participate in the nationwide Ride to School Day
Students beginning the roll race to school!
Children racing (safely) through the Goose Ponds pathway
School captains, Paris Housden and Will Casey
Scooters ready for take-off!
Photo Credit: Hannah McNamara
