Cycling for children
School programs
TravelSmart to School
The TravelSmart to School program works with primary schools to promote walking, cycling, public transport and carpooling for school trips. For more information 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 achieve 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.
he make tracks2school pilot project was a partnership project between the Department for Planning and Infrastructure, the Premier Physical Activity Task Force and the Heart Foundation, with support from the Department of Education and Training.
In 2008, the make tracks2school program will be run by the Heart Foundation (WA) from 27 October - 21 November (Term 4, Weeks 3 - 6).
For further information contact Vanessa Beal, Heart Foundation's Manager Physical Activity on (08) 9382 5953 or email Vanessa.Beal@heartfoundation.org.au.
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, Wednesday 12 March 2008 (www.bv.com.au/join-in/125/)
The inaugural National Ride2School Day coincided with the annual Bikeweek Cycle to School Day, held in Western Australia since 1995.
The Western Australian primary schools were encouraged by the Department to register for the national event. Visit the National Ride2School Day (www.bv.com.au/join-in/125/) web page for more information about this initiative.
