Wyndham Active Travel to Schools Program

This program is designed for primary school students in Years 5–6. Each participating school selects three to four students to become Junior Active Travel Leaders (JATL).

As part of the program, the students and their parents/guardians commit to actively travelling to school at least 2–3 days per week (weather and health permitting). The aim is to promote and encourage active travel within the school community.

The Junior Active Travel Leaders work alongside Council’s Sustainable Transport Officer and a nominated teacher to champion active travel through activities such as:

• Speaking at school assemblies

• Organising active travel events

• Developing ideas to support and encourage more students to walk, ride or scoot to school

What do Junior Active Travel Leaders receive?

Each selected student will receive:

• A second-hand upcycled bike

• A new bike lock and helmet

• A double-walled steel water bottle

• A Junior Active Travel Leader hi-vis vest

• A zipper pull and other fun items 

Dr Cranky and Council have partnered to help keep students riding safely and confidently. Their work includes:

School Bike Checks

Bart and his team regularly visit schools to carry out bike safety checks. They inspect essential components such as brakes, reflectors, bells, tyres and chains to ensure bikes are safe for use. Where spare parts are available, they’ll replace them on the spot.

If your school would like to host a Bike Check session, get in touch with us today.

Bicycle Maintenance Sessions

As part of the Junior Active Travel Leader Program, Bart delivers hands-on maintenance workshops. Students learn practical skills such as repairing a puncture, pumping tyres, adjusting brakes, checking chains, and replacing bells or grips – helping them stay confident and independent on their bikes.

Bike Donations

Families can donate unwanted bikes to Dr Cranky either directly or during the Bike Checks undertaken at their child’s school. These bikes are repaired and given a second life with someone who needs them.  For more information about Dr Cranky’s services, visit: www.drcrankys.com.au

An incentive that utilises students’ creative abilities within small school-based competition style programs.  In collaboration between the school and council, students design/create an image they think represents active travel. 

The designs can be made into zipper pulls that can be handed out to students to further encourage active travel; into posters to be attached to the school fence; postcards to be handed out on event days; and other media to highlight the students’ creativity and further encourage active travel.

The Sustainable Transport Officer works with a teacher and a group of students (Student Leadership Group, Active Travel Group, Green Group or similar etc) who would be best placed to assist in coming up with routes to school. Together, the Sustainable Transport Officer, teacher and the students review the paths and spaces to suggest the best paths to school. 

Once finalised, the paths are spray painted with existing stencils or ones that the students create, and a child-friendly map is created.  The child-friendly map is installed in a central location at the school and a soft copy is provided to the school

We’re excited to offer schools the opportunity to take part in the Gear Up! Program, a hands-on bike education initiative delivered in collaboration with the Wyndham Park Community Shed.

Designed for students in Years 5 – 9, the program runs over five weekly sessions (2 hours each). Students learn both theory and practical skills, including:

• Identifying the parts of a bike
• How to repair and maintain bikes
• Using the tools required for bike maintenance

In 2025, six Wyndham schools participated, with more than 25 students successfully completing the program. The benefits go beyond mechanical skills—students build confidence, teamwork, and community connections while learning something new.

Bikes are just the beginning. Each repaired bike represents a student’s journey of skill development, social inclusion, and sustainability. Many bikes are donated and recycled through the program, reducing waste and promoting active lifestyles.

Change last line ‘If your school… please contact…’ to ‘If your school would like to work with Bicycle Network, please contact them via phone: 1800 639 634 or via email: ride2school@bicyclenetwork.com.au’