RACV and Bicycle Network have teamed up to provide Ride2School’s Bike Ed program, aimed at promoting active lifestyles and road safety awareness among Victorian primary school students, with RACV investing $200,000 as part of the two-year partnership.
Ride2School will focus on supporting students in the northwest and southeast of Melbourne to develop safe bike riding skills that encourage them to ride to school.
The Ride2School program launched in early September at Doherty’s Creek P-9 College in Truganina, with 175 students taking part in a special assembly that also unveiled a fleet of 12 Giant bicycles, funded by RACV, and helmets donated by Lazer.
As part of the launch Dr Cranky’s Bicycle Hospital will provide onsite bike maintenance to ensure students have access to safe and well-maintained bicycles.
Bicycle Network CEO Alison McCormack welcomed RACV’s support for Ride2School’s Bike Ed, a beloved Victorian program that has supported thousands of students in Victoria for almost two decades.
“Learning to ride a bike safely encourages and empowers children to become physically active and Ride2School lays the foundation for lifelong healthy habits,” Ms McCormack said.
“Riding to school helps children get their recommended daily physical activity needs and multiple studies have shown riding to school leads to better attendance, grades, cognitive performance and classroom behaviour.”
RACV General Manager Mobility Julia Hunter said Ride2School is designed to provide students with essential bike and road safety skills.
“Ride2School’s Bike Ed is a Bicycle Network program that we’re excited to support as it equips students with new, valuable life skills that makes riding a real commuting option for families,” Ms Hunter said.
Ride2School Bike Ed program is aimed at grades three to six and RACV and Bicycle Network will together identify ways to help schools improve their active travel rate.
“RACV is excited to support programs like this one that aim to lay the foundation for a future where active travel is the norm, promoting physical and mental well-being,” said Ms Hunter.
For further information about RACV’s free primary school safety programs, visit racv.com.au/education.
