Walking/cycling to school

Description and Benefits

Walking and cycling to school provides opportunities for students to engage in regular physical activity. Within formal programs there are also opportunities for volunteers to engage in regular physical activity. Other outcomes are fewer cars on the road, less pollution and a safer traffic environment around the schools (Ross and Butera, 2004) .

Walking and cycling to school could be considered as active transport. Active transport is defined as physical activity undertaken as a means of transport and not purely as a form of recreation. Active transport generally refers to walking and cycling for travel to and/or from a destination. (Go For Your Life, 2006)

The benefits of walking and cycling to school include:

 Regular physical activity of at least 30 minutes can provide significant health benefits  Social activity  Improved road safety skills  Reduced traffic congestion  Reduced noise, air pollution and stress  Accessible to the majority of populations regardless of income, age and location

Using active transport as a mode of transport to school gives children an opportunity to gain regular exercise by either walking or cycling. Higher levels of physical activity and better cardiovascular fitness is achieved in children who walk or ride to school when compared with children who do not actively commute to school. According to a Youth Heart study, children and adolescents who walk or cycle to school are more likely to have higher daily levels of physical activity than young people who travel by car or bus (Davison et al., 2008) as cited in “How times have changed”: Active transport literature review (Dr Lisa Thomson, 2009).

According to Dr Jan Garrard, Active transport can make a substantial contribution to children’s daily physical activity and can address inequalities in physical activity participation in terms of age, gender, and socio-economic status (Garrard, December 2009)

Department of Health Last updated: 20 May 2011

Size and distribution of the problem

Figure . Travel to school in 1974-2003, students Prep-Year 12

80%

70%

60%

50% 1974* 1984* 40% 1994* 1999† 2003‡ 30%

20%

10%

0% Train Bus Tram Car Walk Other

Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics 1975, 1985 and 1995, Victorian Government Department of Transport 2000 and 2002 (Australian Bureau of Statistics, 1975, Australian Bureau of Statistics, 1985, Australian Bureau of Statistics, 1995, Victorian Government Department of Transport, 2000, Victorian Government Department of Transport, 2003)

Victoria (The Walking School Bus Pilot Program 2001-2002 Key Learnings (VicHealth, 2003) Prep to Grade 2 = 27% walk, 0.4% cycle, 0.2% public transport and 71.5% car Grade 3-6 = 24% walk, 1.7% cycle, 1.7% public transport and 72.3% car

Sydney Trends in children travelling to school 1999-2003: burning petrol or carbohydrates? (Van der Ploeg HP et al., 2008) Age 5-9 = 28.1% walk, 6.5% public transport, 66% car and 1.2% other Age 10-14 = 26% walk, 29.9% public transport, 38.7% car and 2.4% other

New South Wales School Physical Activity and Nutrition Survey 2004 (Booth et al., 2006 ) Grade 6 Boys = 31% car, 29% walk , 20% public transport and 20% unknown Grade 6 Girls = 36% care, 30% walk, 21% public transport and 13% unknown

Brisbane 2005 School Travel Modes in Brisbane, Griffith University, June 2005 (Ridgewell et al., 2005) To school = 21% walk, 4.7% cycle, 1.7% public transport and 72.6% car From school = 25.3% walk, 4.3 cycle, 5.1% public transport and 65.2 car

Western Australia Child and Adolescent Physical Activity and Nutrition Survey, 2003 (Hands, 2004) Non-metro Primary School (Male) = 47.3% no active transport reported Metro Primary School (Male) = 51.8% no active transport reported Non-metro Primary School (Female) = 49.5% no active transport reported Metro Primary School (Female) = 50.4% no active transport reported

Primary School (Male) = 37.7% walk, 23% cycle Primary School (Female) = 44.8% walk, 16.7% cycle

Page 2 Department of Health A detailed analysis of walking and cycling based on Census data (Bartley Consulting Pty Ltd, September 2008) is available at http://www.transport.vic.gov.au/DOI/DOIElect.nsf/$UNIDS+for+Web+Display/428500DE890D4E8ECA2574E2007A AC8F/$FILE/WalkingCyclingCensusAnalysis.pdf

Leadership

 Local Councils - Walking School bus funding via VicHealth, supporting safe routes to schools for cycling and walking via planning  Schools work with Bicycle Victoria to implement the Ride2School Program either via the training to become a Ride2School coach or the 15 step guide ‘do it yourself’ guide.

Suggested Partners, their roles and responsibilities

 Schools – principals, teachers to conduct regular hands up surveys, school council and parents to support chosen programs  VicHealth – for Walking School Bus  Bicycle Victoria – Ride2School or Pedal Pods  Kids - ‘Go for your life’: Walking/cycling to school is a component of the Kids – ‘Go for your life’ Award program for Early Childhood Services and Primary Schools under the criteria Stride and Ride.  VicRoads  Travelsmart

Cost

A discussion on the cost of delivering the intervention can be found at http://www.health.vic.gov.au/healthpromotion/downloads/ace_obesity.pdf. The main costs are incurred if the council decides to employ a coordinator. Other activities are supported by existing staff in schools and by volunteers.

Resources for Implementation

Walking School Bus/Riding School Bus – VicHealth (http://www.vichealth.vic.gov.au/Content.aspx?topicID=251) A Walking School Bus is a school bus powered not by an engine but by legs. Children don’t sit inside this bus – they walk in a group to school, with an adult ‘driver’ in the front and an adult ‘conductor’ at the rear. The walkers are the bus. The bus travels along a set route to or from school, picking up or dropping off children along the way at designated ‘bus stops’. Bus stops can be meeting points along the route or each child’s front gate. The service is free. Every child is welcome to join the bus, even if their parents aren’t able to be drivers. (VicHealth) Coordination of a walking school bus program is often done by an officer from the local council. Limited VicHealth funding for the program is available, but most of the support is provided through the tools available on their website. Establishing and managing a walking school bus program is an active partnership between the council, the school and parents and does not need council coordination. A step-by-step guide to establishing a walking school bus is provided by VicHealth at http://www.vichealth.vic.gov.au/Content.aspx?topicID=210 and a more detailed guide at http://www.vichealth.vic.gov.au/Content.aspx?topicID=213.

Pedal Pods or Cycling School Buses are similar to Walking School Buses, Bicycle Victoria has developed resources to assist volunteers with cycling school buses.

In May 2007, 52 council areas were involved in delivering the Walking School Bus (WSB) program. These 52 councils engaged 198 schools who operated 356 WSB routes, with 693 buses and 6584 children walking to school as a direct result of the WSB program. These children were supported by at least 1386 volunteers.

Schools should conduct a survey of parents to assess the level of interest in a walking school bus program prior to deciding whether to implement this intervention. A sample survey can be found at www.travelsmart.gov.au/schools/pubs/parentsurvey.doc.

Ride2School – BicycleVictoria (http://www.bv.com.au/join-in/125/)

Page 3 Department of Health Bicycle Victoria runs the Ride2School Program www.ride2school.com.au. This behaviour change program aims to increase the number of students walking and riding to school. Ride2School encourages healthy lifestyles by increasing students' physical activity levels. The program consists of five main components - 1. Hands Up Surveys - Regular online surveys track the number of students arriving at school by different forms of transport. Students enjoy being surveyed and this encourages students to be active on the way to and from school. To take part in the hands up survey and to be in the running for great prizes register here. 2. Improving Riding Skills - Develops confidence in both parents and students. We can provide volunteers to assist with your Bike Ed course, provide contacts for Bike Ed Instructor training and contacts for companies who will run the Bike Ed for you. 3. Events - Ride2School Day in March and the Walk and Wheel-A-Thon in October. We provide the resources so that schools can run your own events. Events are a great way to spark the interest of non riders and walkers, showing them how easy, fun and energizing it is to be active on the way to and from school. 4. Facilities - Bike sheds, school crossings, bike paths, traffic calming treatments and quiet neighbourhood routes all help to promote riding and walking to school by providing a safer environment around the school. Bicycle Victoria have developed resources to allow you to assess your school's needs and to help you initiate necessary changes. 5. Schools Coordinator consultation - Expert assistance can be gained from our Ride2School staff over the phone or in person. To participate in the program schools can either;  Do it yourself using resources available on the website – in particular a 15 step guide available at http://www.bv.com.au/join-in/30290/, or go  Coordinator directed - With the expert assistance of a Schools Coordinator by becoming a Ride2School Coach School. Bicycle Victoria seeks expressions of interest from government primary and secondary schools who would like to be part of the FREE coach school program. Schools should contact Bicycle Victoria at http://www.bv.com.au/join-in/41688/

Participation in the Ride2School program as provided by Bicycle Victoria on 5 October 2008 is shown below. Schools highlighted are not currently participating in the program. No schools are currently part of the Coach program.

Public Schools Currently Participating in program Not currently participating in the program Airly Primary School Athlone Primary School Alberton Primary School Primary School Araluen Primary School Bairnsdale Secondary College Bairnsdale West Primary School Baringa Special School Bass Valley Primary School Bona Vista Primary School Boisdale Consolidated School Briagolong Primary School Boolarra Primary School Buln Buln Primary School Bruthen Primary School Bundalaguah Primary School Buchan Primary School Clifton Creek Primary School Cann River P-12 College Cobains Primary School Churchill North Primary School Clifton Creek Primary School Churchill Primary School Cowwarr Primary School Commercial Road Primary School - Dargo Primary School Cowes Primary School Drouin Primary School Darnum Primary School Drouin West Primary School Devon North Primary School Eagle Point Primary School Drouin Secondary College Ellinbank Primary School Drouin South Primary School Fish Creek and District Primary School East Specialist School Glengarry Primary School Foster Primary School Gormandale And District Primary School Goongerah Primary School Hazelwood North Primary School Grey Street Primary School () Heyfield Primary School Guthridge Primary School Primary School Inverloch Primary School Primary School Lakes Entrance Primary School Primary School Latrobe Special Developmental School Korumburra Secondary College Loch Sport Primary School Kurnai College Longwarry Primary School Kurnai College Lowanna College Kurnai College Lucknow Primary School Labertouche Primary School Primary School Lakes Entrance Secondary College

Page 4 Department of Health Mallacoota P-12 College Lardner and District Primary School Meerlieu Primary School Primary School Primary School Leongatha Secondary College Moe (Albert Street) Primary School Lindenow Primary School Moe (South Street) Primary School Lindenow South Primary School Morwell Park Primary School Loch Primary School Morwell Primary School Longford Primary School Narracan Primary School Maffra Secondary College South Primary School Marlo Primary School Newborough East Primary School Mirboo North Primary School Newhaven Primary School Mirboo North Secondary College Nicholson Primary School Moe Primary School Nilma Primary School Nambrok Denison Primary School Primary School Neerim District Rural Primary School Nungurner Primary School Neerim District Secondary College Primary School Newborough Primary School Orbost Secondary College Newmerella Primary School Paynesville Primary School Noorinbee Primary School Poowong Consolidated School Nowa Nowa Primary School Powlett River Primary School Primary School Rosedale Primary School Primary School Sale Primary School Orbost North Primary School Sale Specialist School Rawson Primary School San Remo Primary School Ripplebrook Primary School Primary School Sale College Tanjil South Primary School Sale College Tobruk Street Primary School - Morwell Seaspray Primary School Toongabbie Primary School Secondary College Toora Primary School South Gippsland Specialist School Traralgon (Kosciuszko Street) Primary School Stratford Primary School Traralgon (Stockdale Road) Primary School Swan Reach Primary School Tyers Primary School Swifts Creek Secondary College Victorian P-12 College Of Koorie Education Tambo Upper Primary School Primary School Tarwin Lower Primary School North Primary School Tarwin Valley Primary School Wonthaggi Primary School Thorpdale Primary School Woodside Primary School Toorloo Arm Primary School North Primary School Trafalgar High School Yarragon Primary School Trafalgar Primary School Yarram Primary School Traralgon (Liddiard Road) Primary School Yarram Secondary College Traralgon College Yinnar Primary School Traralgon College Yinnar South Primary School Traralgon South Primary School Tubbut Primary School Warragul & District Specialist School Warragul North Primary School Warragul Regional College Welshpool and District Primary School Willow Grove Primary School Wonthaggi Secondary College Wonthaggi Secondary College Woodglen Primary School Wurruk Primary School

Private Schools Currently Participating in program Not currently participating in the program Flinders Christian Community College Gippsland Grammar Gippsland Grammar Gippsland Grammar Lavalla Catholic College Glenvale School Marist Sion College Immaculate Heart of Mary School Mary MacKillop Catholic Regional College Lavalla Catholic College Nagle College Lavalla Catholic College Newhaven College Lumen Christi Primary School

Page 5 Department of Health Newhaven College Methodist Ladies' College Sacred Heart School South Coast Christian College South Coast Christian College St Gabriel's School St Brendan's School St Ita's Primary School St Joseph's School St Kieran's School St Joseph's School St Laurence O'Toole Primary School St Joseph's School St Paul's Anglican Grammar School St Joseph's School St Paul's Anglican Grammar School St Joseph's School St Paul's Anglican Grammar School, Traralgon St Mary's Primary School St Vincent de Paul Primary School St Mary's Primary School St Mary's School St Mary's School St Michael's School St Michael's School St Patrick's School St Thomas' Primary School

The Kids - 'Go for your life' Program provides health professionals, primary schools and early childhood services in Victoria with a structured approach to address children's healthy eating and physical activity.  Health professionals - evidence based resources and professional development opportunities are available to community health professionals interested in supporting schools and services to participate in the Kids - 'Go for your life' Program. Find out more at http://www.goforyourlife.vic.gov.au/hav/articles.nsf/practitioners/health_professionals?Open  Early childhood services and primary schools - these settings can participate in the free Kids - 'Go for your life' Award Program and establish environments, policies and practices that support children's healthy eating and physical activity. Find out more at http://www.goforyourlife.vic.gov.au/hav/articles.nsf/pracpages/Kids_Go_for_your_life?open

Wellbeing and Health Organisation Links for Education (WHOLE) - Health and Wellbeing Policy. This integrated policy provides an example of combining all school health and wellbeing policies. http://www.goforyourlife.vic.gov.au/whole

VicRoads Road Safety Education Programs for preschools, primary, secondary schools and parents/carers. Children and young people have a high involvement in road crashes, so they must learn to use the road safely. As they grow and develop they need to learn to be safe in different environments – as passengers, pedestrians, bicycle riders, public transport users and learner drivers. Parents/carers play a pivotal role in teaching their children to be safe at all times, with the support of Maternal and Child Health Nurses, child carers, family day carers, preschools, primary and secondary schools. VicRoads and its partners provide a range of road safety resources and programs that deliver developmentally appropriate education to prepare children and young people to become safe and independent road users. http://www.vicroads.vic.gov.au/Home/RoadSafety/RoadSafetyEducation/ Bicycle Victoria Ride2school days http://www.bv.com.au/

Arrive Alive, Kids on the move: Traffic Safety Education for Primary Schools http://www.arrivealive.vic.gov.au/node/124

Travelsmart (http://www.travelsmart.gov.au/schools/index.html) Active Living Research http://www.activelivingresearch.org/ Active Transport Quantification Tool - Local Government for Sustainability http://att.ccp.iclei.org/front

A presentation on Children’s Independent Mobility is available at http://www.bv.com.au/file/Planning%20Institute%20Congress%2008.ppt which is based on the following paper http://www.abp.unimelb.edu.au/gamut/pdf/battery-reared.pdf

VicHealth is currently funding new ‘Streets Ahead’ projects by supporting six communities to create supportive environments that enhance children’s active transport and independent mobility in all aspects of their community life, including to and from school. http://www.vichealth.vic.gov.au/streetsahead/

Page 6 Department of Health Options for Local Government to consider in planning for physical activity and healthy eating environments (Pretorius, 2008) can be found at http://www.health.qld.gov.au/ph/documents/hpu/lga_physical_eating.pdf

Evaluation Tools

Methods for measurement of mode of travel to school and levels of physical activity are described at http://docs.health.vic.gov.au/docs/doc/9AF96960330435FDCA25788B002223B2/$FILE/PhysicalActivity.pdf

References

Australian Bureau of Statistics (1975) TravelSmart School Travel Planning Pilot results of survey before school travel planning 1974. unpublished. Accessed on.

Australian Bureau of Statistics (1985) Travel to work, school and shops, Victoria, October 1984. Australian Bureau of Statistics. Accessed on.

Australian Bureau of Statistics (1995) Travel to work, school and shops, Victoria, October 1994. Australian Bureau of Statistics. Accessed on.

Bartley Consulting Pty Ltd (September 2008) Walking and Cycling: Census Analysis. http://www.transport.vic.gov.au/DOI/DOIElect.nsf/$UNIDS+for+Web+Display/428500DE890D4E8ECA2574E2007A AC8F/$FILE/WalkingCyclingCensusAnalysis.pdf

Booth, M., Okley, A., Denney-Wilson, E. & et al. (2006 ) NSW Schools Physical Activity and Nutrition Survey (SPANS) 2004: Summary Report NSW Department of Health http://www.health.nsw.gov.au/pubs/2006/pdf/spans_report.pdf

Davison, K., Werder, J. & Lawson, C. (2008) Children’s Active Commuting to School: Current Knowledge and Future Directions. Preventing Chronic Disease, Public Health Research, Practice and Policy, 5. http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/picrender.fcgi?artid=2483568&blobtype=pdf

Dr Lisa Thomson (2009) "How times have changed" - active transport literature review Victorian Health Promotion Foundation. http://www.vichealth.vic.gov.au/~/media/ProgramsandProjects/PhysicalActivity/Attachments/Active%20Transport% 20Literature%20Review%20Final%20March%202009_2.ashx

Garrard, J., Dr (December 2009) Active Transport: Children and Young People. VicHealth. http://www.apo.org.au/sites/default/files/Active_transport.pdf

Hands, B., Parker, H., Glasson, C., Brinkman, S. & Read, H. (2004) Results of Western Australian Child and Adolescent Physical Activity and Nutrition Survey 2003 (CAPANS). Physical Activity Technical Report Government of Western Australia. http://www.beactive.wa.gov.au/resources_research_capans.asp

Ridgewell, C., Sipe, N. & Buchanan, N. (2005) School Travel Modes in Brisbane. Griffith University. http://www.griffith.edu.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0009/48573/urp-rp04-ridgewell-et-al-2005.pdf

Ross, I. & Butera, R. (2004) Evaluation of the walking school bus program: can we explain the outcomes? Australasian Evaluation Society 2004 International Conference. Adelaide, South Australia. www.aes.asn.au

Van der Ploeg HP, Merom D, Corpuz G & Bauman AE (2008) Trends in Australian children travelling to school 1971-2003: burning petrol or carbohydrates? Preventive Medicine, 46, 60-62. http://www.transport.nsw.gov.au/tdc/documents/trends-in-school-travel.pdf

VicHealth Walking School Bus. Accessed on 21 November 2008.

VicHealth (2003) The Walking School Bus Program: Learnings from VicHealth's pilot program 2001. http://www.vichealth.vic.gov.au/assets/contentFiles/WSB_Pilot_Key_Learnings.pdf

Victorian Government Department of Transport (2000) Victorian Activity and Travel Survey 1988/99. Accessed on.

Victorian Government Department of Transport (2003) TravelSmart School Travel Planning Pilot results of baseline survey before school travel planning. unpublished.

Page 7 Department of Health