Students at Alamanda College in Point Cook are riding, walking, scooting and skating their way to better health.
The school has become the third in Wyndham with an active travel plan, launching it as part of National Ride to School Day last Friday.
In partnership with Bicycle Network, the college has laid stickers on footpaths outlining popular and safe routes to school to encourage parents to leave their cars at home.
Teacher Ryan Ma said it was important for the school to support healthy habits.
“We know that traffic congestion is an issue for many schools, especially at drop-off and pick-up time,” he said.
“It seems to be working. In the short time since we’ve implemented the plan, we’ve gone from one in three students walking or riding to school to one in two. Our goal is to increase that to 60 per cent.”
Another five schools – Iramoo, Bellbridge and St James The Apostle primary schools as well as The Grange P-12 College and Manor Lakes P-12 College – will receive $5000 grants to develop active travel plans as part of Wyndham council’s Healthy Together Wyndham program.
The council’s community well-being portfolio holder, Cr Bob Fairclough, said walking or riding to school was a great start to the day.
“Taking the active way to school is an opportunity to talk with your children, teach them about road safety and get to know other families along the same route,” he said.
Healthy Together Wyndham is a joint initiative of Wyndham council and the state government.
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