Active cyclists
Warragul Primary School held one of the biggest Active Path launches seen by Bicycle Network Victoria, with 84 per cent of students actively traveling to school on Friday.
A total of 128 students actively travelled with 59 per cent walking, 33 per cent riding their bike and eight per cent skating or scooting.
Warragul Primary School had been awarded a $5000 grant from Bicycle Network Victoria’s Ride2School program last year to detail four main pathways into the school.
The pathways not only provide four dedicated travel paths to the school for students but shows the wider community the school’s passion in supporting its students to be healthier and safer.
The pathways are shown by decals on the routes and actual signposts along Princes Way from Waterford Rise.
The four dedicated active pathways are the Princes path (red) from Waterford Rise, the Burke path (blue) from the Burke St netball courts, the Normanby path (green) and Sutton path (pink).
Serman Uluca of Bicycle Network Victoria joined students on their journey along the Burke path.
He said it was one of the largest Active Pathway launches he had attended, with more than 50 students travelling along that path.
“Most of the paths are a 15 to 20-minute journeys, so taking them to and from school will put you directly half way to meeting your recommended daily exercise,” Mr Uluca told students.
“If you’re also running around at lunchtime, that brings your hour up.”
Baw Baw Shire mayor Mikaela Power congratulated the Warragul Primary School community for taking initiative to encourage exercise.
Bicycle Network Victoria offer $5000 grants twice a year to support more students riding and actively travelling to school.
Grants can be used for bike parking, Ride2School Active Paths, a fleet of bikes for the school, financial contributions to a new bike shed and much more.