Riding is cool

By Kelly Yates
STUDENTS at Berwick Lodge Primary School are gearing up to ride their bicycles and scooters to school for next week’s National Ride2School Day.
The Mansfield Street school will join thousands of schools across the country for the annual event on Wednesday 17 March, with schools providing healthy breakfasts, all-day cycling festivals, school parades and bike excursions to celebrate the day.
Assistant principal at Berwick Lodge Primary School Debbie Cusack said the school had been participating in the initiative, which promotes physical activity, for many years.
“Many of our students are unable to ride their bikes to school due to the distance they travel to come to Berwick Lodge Primary School,” she said.
“On National Ride2School Day, we acknowledge the students who have ridden their bikes and scooters to school.”
Comedian and radio announcer Matt Tilley from Melbourne’s Fox FM has hopped on board as this year’s National Ride2School Day ambassador.
Ride2School events manager Mary Akiki said schools registered in the program had reported that nearly half of their students got to school walking, riding or by scooter.
“By actively getting to and from school, students’ daily physical activity increases significantly, which benefits their overall health and helps reduce the risk of obesity and associated health problems,” Ms Akiki said.
Last year’s National Ride2School Day was dubbed a “huge success” by Bicycle Victoria’s CEO Harry Barber, with more than 1000 schools and 100,000 students taking part in the event.
“National Ride2School Day has become the largest ever national celebration of walking and riding to school,” Mr Barber said.