Benefits of walking and cycling
1. Reduce traffic congestion around the school and in parking.
2. Safer roads with less traffic
3. Children get their 30 minute of exercise daily.
4. Children become familiar with their neighbouring community.
5. Children gain independence and learn road safety skills.
6. Petrol costs are reduced.
7. In some cases, time is saved by walking or riding to school.
School Active Travel Plan
A School Travel Plan is a document that outlines how a school intends to make travel to and from their campuses safer and more sustainable for students, families and teachers.
The School Travel Plan can address local traffic issues around schools and encourage active, safe and sustainable travel methods, such as walking, cycling, scooting or public transport. The School Travel Plan should tie in with the school’s overall aspirations and is a document that should be monitored and regularly reviewed.
Using the principles of travel plans, a School Travel Plan kit has been developed for the schools in the City of Whittlesea. Resources have been created to assist schools in the development of their own travel plans.
- How to develop a School Travel Plan (pdf)
- Ideas to Overcome Common Barriers to Active Travel (pdf)
- School Travel Survey for parents (doc)
- School Travel Survey for staff (doc)
- School Travel Survey for students – prep to grade 2 (doc)
- School Travel Survey for students – grade 3 to 6 (doc)
- School Travel Plan template (doc)
Quarterly School Active Travel Network Meetings
Established in 2016, the Whittlesea School Active Travel Network allows schools to:
- Share ideas on ways they’re encouraging school active travel
- Troubleshoot shared challenges
- Build relationships with council to tackle infrastructure and congestion issues proactively
- Be informed of active travel events, grants and programs
Bicycle Network Active Paths
Active Paths are designated routes to school that have been identified in conjunction with the local council and the school community. They are designed to make the journey to school as clear, popular and fun as possible.
This provides the school community with a network of routes that allow all students to actively travel at least part of the way on their journey to school with great benefits:
- Reduced traffic congestion outside the school
- Students arrive alert and ready to learn
- Students that actively travel contribute to their daily amount of physical activity.
The schools that have Active Paths are:
- Epping Views Primary
- Findon Primary
- Hazel Glen College & St Paul the Apostle
- Mernda Primary
- Plenty Parklands Primary
- St Peter’s Parish Primary