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 Victoria 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 Australia 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.