The pump track

Bikes & Scooters

A school survey discovered that 90% of our students have a bike or a scooter, but only 2% of them actually ride to school. In fact, our survey found that 71% of students travelled to school by car rather than actively by walking, riding or scooting. Kindergarten students and children in daycare are encouraged to ride bikes and scooters at school, why can’t all primary students?

Riding scooters and bikes on public roads and footpaths can be dangerous. If students could learn how to ride or better control a bike at school rather than on the road, it would be much safer. Competing with cars on a road while scooting is also dangerous due to the possibility of getting hit. Skate parks are great for older children, but can be intimidating and there is a chance that no one might be around to help if a child got badly hurt. Six cyclists died on South Australian roads last year, 3 more than the normal average. The benefits of riding bikes and scooters at school outweighs the risks.

Riding scooters and bikes also helps establish a healthy exercise habit for life. Scootering for just half an hour can burn 200 calories; which is equal to one slice of pizza. We know that kids spend up to 90% of their day inside, often in front of screens. We know being inactive can cause diabetes and obesity. We also know that 1 in 4 children in Australia were overweight or obese in 2014-2015 and almost 2 in 3 adults were obese in 2014-2015. Introducing bike and scooter play into the yard wouldn't just be a fun way to get exercise, it could contribute to turning around these statistics.

Lets bring bike and scooter play to our yard and see if we can increase the number of families using active transport to travel to school.