6 December 2018

ACT Government to spend $2million to encourage kids to walk or ride to school

| Lachlan Roberts
Join the conversation
16

Suzanne Orr visited Giralang Primary School, which is one of 52 schools that will benefit from the ACT Government’s investment. Photo: Supplied.

The ACT Government will spend $2 million to install new street signs, wayfinding pavement stencils, new footpaths, safer crossings, traffic calming measures and additional bike storages to encourage more kids to walk or ride to school next year.

More than 50 schools across the nation’s capital will join the ACT Government’s Active Streets for Schools program, which gives schools the resources and infrastructure to encourage more students to walk, ride or use public transport.

Suzanne Orr, representing the ACT Transport Minister Meegan Fitzharris and Education Minister Yvette Berry, said the first year of the Active Streets saw a five per cent increase in the number of children who walked or rode to and from school.

“Earlier this year, we offered the program to all the remaining primary schools that hadn’t yet received Active Streets support,” Ms Orr said. “I’m really pleased to say that all 52 schools that indicated their interest in participating in the program will be included in the expanded program.”

The Active Streets program goes hand-in-hand with the Ride or Walk to School program which supports schools to build the confidence and skills of students to actively travel to school.

“The great thing about this program is that we work with the schools to tailor the infrastructure improvements to suit each school’s individual needs and help address potential barriers preventing walking or riding to school,” said Ms Orr.

“We know that kids who are more active do better in the classroom, so this program not only makes it safer and easier for kids to get to school but helps kids be healthier, happier and more socially connected.”

Schools to benefit from Active Streets in 2019:

Arawang Primary, Bonython Primary; Brindabella Christian College (Belconnen); Burgmann Anglican School (Gungahlin); Campbell Primary School; Canberra Christian School; Canberra Girls’ Grammar; Canberra Grammar; Canberra Montessori School; Charles Conder Primary; Covenant Christian School; Duffy Primary School; Franklin Early Childhood School; Gilmore Primary School; Giralang Primary; Gold Creek School; Gordon Primary; Gowrie Primary School; Hawker Primary; Holy Family Primary; Kaleen Primary; Kingsford-Smith School; Marist College; Miles Franklin Primary; Monash Primary; Namadgi School; Narrabundah Early Childhood School; Neville Bonner Primary; Ngunnawal Primary; North Ainslie Primary; Red Hill Primary; Southern Cross Early Childhood School; St Anthony’s Primary; St Benedict’s Primary; St Clare of Assisi Primary; St Edmund’s College; St John the Apostle School; St Joseph’s Primary; St Michael’s Primary; St Monica’s Primary; St Thomas Aquinas Primary; St Thomas More’s Primary; St Thomas the Apostle Primary; Sts Peter & Paul Primary; Taqwa School; Taylor Primary; Torrens Primary; Trinity Christian School; Turner School; Wanniassa Hills Primary; Weetangera Primary; Yarralumla Primary

Join the conversation

16
All Comments
  • All Comments
  • Website Comments
LatestOldest

Looking at many of the parents when I drop off the kids at school, they need walking to work options too.

How do our kids like being told to be “heathy” with their exercise and eating options when so many adults are in the weight range that is medically obese?

People need to love them self more, eat better and find the time to exercise. Canberra has so many open spaces with one of the most livable city rankings, but still so many obese people who can’t enjoy it! It makes me sad.

Daily Digest

Want the best Canberra news delivered daily? Every day we package the most popular Riotact stories and send them straight to your inbox. Sign-up now for trusted local news that will never be behind a paywall.

By submitting your email address you are agreeing to Region Group's terms and conditions and privacy policy.