Active Travel to School Program
Council is dedicated to assisting schools to implement Active Travel at their schools. The support that can be provided includes:
- implementing path decals/spray painting
- reviewing infrastructure
- reviewing suitable paths and providing recommendations for “Park & Walk”
- information for dissemination to parents/guardians
- implementation of an active travel plan
In addition to the basic support, Council also offers the following programs:
Junior Active Travel Leader
Adapted from a UK model, 2-3 students from Grades 4-6 attending a participating school are selected to be a Junior Active Travel Leader (JATL).
The student and their parent/guardians agree to actively travel at least 2-3 days per week (illness and weather permitting). The selected JATL students are able to choose a new bike/scooter & helmet (Council funds this purchase up to a set price and nominates the store where the items are to be purchased from).
Council also supplies a combination bike lock, a vest to use during their time at the school, and a JATL zipper pull for their personal use. The Sustainable Transport Officer works with the students and their supporting teachers to run events, promote active travel through discussions with their peers, presentations at school assemblies and other activities. In addition to promoting active travel, the students will gain skills in leadership, public speaking and event management.
This program aims to continuously support students as they move up year levels to develop healthy habits for incidental exercise and safe active travel to school whilst helping to reduce congestion on the roads around the school.
To be involved in this program, please contact Dianne Johnson, Sustainable Transport Officer at: sustainable.transport@wyndham.vic.gov.au or mobile: 0436 477 393.
BREAKS – Bicycle Recycling & Engagement of Active Kids At Schools – Partnership with Dr Cranky
This program aims to ensure every child has a working bike. It does this by recycling unwanted bikes and passing them on to students who need them. Bikes are donated by the school community (e.g. families with unused bikes) and the school is supplied with a bike repair kit and a bike stand. Parent/Guardian volunteers from the school run the 'bike hospital' on a regular basis ie: every fortnight, throughout the school terms with support and training from Dr Cranky’s.
Bart (from Dr Cranky) works with the school to train volunteers in fixing bikes. Once the volunteers have completed their training, they will then run the bike hospitals themselves in conjunction with the school and ongoing support from Dr Cranky’s. The Bicycle Hospital usually opens during the school pick up and drop off times. Training is provided to the parents through in-person training and online videos. Families can apply for a bike, and the only contribution that is sought is that they ‘contribute’ through assisting with the program, such as pumping up the tyres, tightening a bolt etc. Alternatively, families are welcome to donate money towards the bike/bike repairs and this money will be used to top up equipment when required. The program also does basic repairs on bikes such as replacing bells, grips, tubes etc.
Visit www.drcrankys.com.au to find out more.
If you are keen for your school to be involved, please contact Bart Sbeghen, Founder/CEO, Dr Cranky’s at: barts@drcrankys.com.au or mobile: 0418 231 686 or Dianne Johnson, Sustainable Transport Officer at: sustainable.transport@wyndham.vic.gov.au or mobile: 0436 477 393.
Bicycle Victoria - Collaboration
Council and Bicycle Victoria are currently working together to further develop active travel programs. Bicycle Victoria's focus is on bike riding whilst Council is focussed on all aspects of active travel. If your school is keen to do a smaller program such as Bicycle Victoria's Ride2School program, please contact either:
Ride2School on 1800 639 634 or email: ride2school@bicyclenetwork.com.au or
Dianne Johnson, Sustainable Transport Officer at: sustainable.transport@wyndham.vic.gov.au or mobile: 0436 477 393