Central Coast News

National Ride2School Day aims to help students, teachers and parents discover the joys of riding and kick-start healthy habits for the future.

Organised by charity the Bicycle Network, more than 350,000 students across Australia are expected to participate by either riding, walking, scootering or skating to school.

Warnervale Public School is one of the schools encouraging their students to take part.

"At Warnervale Public School, we look forward to National Ride2School Day because we are safe and active travellers,” teacher Mariah Ingle said.

“Riding to and from school can help reduce traffic, reduce carbon footprint, promote physical activity and inform citizenship."

Nigel Tebb, Health Promotion Officer at Central Coast Local Health District, said taking part provides both physical and cognitive benefits for children.

“National Ride2School Day provides a perfect opportunity for children to contribute to their recommended minimum 60 minutes of physical activity per day,” Mr Tebb said.

“Travelling actively also improves a young person’s concentration, so children taking part will turn up to school more focused and ready to learn.

“We’d love to see as many schools and families as possible get behind the day by encouraging children to go active to school. Even if you can only go part of the way, every bit of physical activity helps.

“What’s more, with the price of petrol right now, ditching using the car for the school run in favour of a bike ride is a much more affordable way to travel, and you’d be doing your bit for the environment too.”

Last year’s National Ride2School Day saw more than 357,000 students and 878 schools take part across Australia, helping to save enough carbon dioxide equivalent to planting 200 trees.

For more information on National Ride2School Day, visit here