The Andrews Labor Government is encouraging more students to cycle to school safely with Ride2School Day (March 13) reaching more than 100 additional schools across the state. Minister for Roads, Road Safety and the TAC Jaala Pulford visited a North Melbourne Primary School as part of Ride2School Day to see how students plan their journey to school safely.
Victorian Minister for Road Safety and the TAC Jaala Pulford said that North Melbourne Primary School is one of over 430 schools around the state partnering with Bicycle Network to make riding to school a safer and more attractive mode of transport for students.
“We want kids right across Victoria to get active and ride to school – that’s why safety programs like this are so important.” Minister Pulford commented “By working with local schools like North Melbourne Primary School, we can improve safety for people riding on our roads.”
Minister Pulford explained that the ‘Active and Safe Travel’ project funded by the Transport Accident Commission aims to improve road safety by educating drivers about how to share the roads with cyclists and teaching students about safe riding practices.

“Ride2School Day is a fun way for students and parents to get active and experience the joy of riding a bike – that’s why we’ve expanded the program to more than 100 extra schools across Victoria.” Victorian Minister for Sport Martin Pakula commented.
Minister Pakula pointed out that around a third of North Melbourne Primary students are driven to school, which is why the project also includes active transport maps to encourage more families to leave the car at home and ride instead. The Minister said that the National Ride2School Day is part of the Ride2School Program, which works with schools to remove barriers to cycling and promote active travel. The program funds a range of projects from bicycle-parking facilities and sheds to identifying safe routes to and from school.

Minister Pulford said that the Labor Government recently expanded the popular Ride2School program, with schools across the state benefitting from the $1.4 million funding boost.
Minister Pakula said that studies show that one in four children are not getting enough exercise and an early ride or walk to school is a great way to ensure students are energised and ready to start learning from the first bell. The Minister added that schools participating in the program have more than double the national average of students walking and riding to school. Last year alone around 350,000 students rode to school.