Resources

This page contains some key resources on walking and cycling, including an archive of the documents produced by the Australian Bicycle Council.

Return to Resources page »
Date Added
Active Travel to Schools Programs
CWANZ

An overview of active travel to schools programs across Australia and New Zealand, their key features and what makes them successful. Also includes a comparison of the number of children that use active travel to school from around the world.

 23/08/2023 View
Active Travel to School: Ride or Walk to School (Safe Cycle)
Transport Canberra and City Services

PROGRAM FEATURES: 

  • Free access to sets of loan bikes for five weeks
  • Safe Cycle: an Australian Curriculum aligned classroom program for students to learn about bike safety and skills
  • TQI Accredited Professional Learning workshops or online training
  • Resources and support to run four active travel events in your school each year (National Ride2School Day, Walk Safely to School Day, Winter Walk to School Week and Ride Safely to School Week)
  • Personalised maps to show the best route to your school
  • Support from a dedicated program manager.

DATE IMPLEMENTED: 1 December 2012

COST OF PROGRAM: $75,000 per year

COST FOR USERS: Free

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

The Ride or Walk to School program (primary) and It's Your Move Safe Cycle program (high school) provides ACT schools with safe cycling resources. It is aligned to the Australian curriculum and includes teacher training and information for parents. The aim is to increase the number of children walking and riding to and from school.

Part of program incorporating infrastructure, signage (Active Streets), and safety at school crossings (School Crossing Supervisors) to encourage children to use active travel to get to and from school.

RESULTS OF EVALUATION:

Report

14/03/2023 View
Active Travel to School Program: School Transport Infrastructure Program
Department of Transport and Main Roads, Queensland

PROGRAM FEATURES: 

Funding to improve the safety and operation of schools through new or improved infrastructure at the school and/or on the surrounding road network. E.g.:

  • construction / upgrading of bikeways and shared pathways
  • construction / upgrading of pedestrian pathways, fencing and barriers
  • Installation / upgrading of pedestrian refuges and crossings
  • Provision / upgrading of bike racks / cages / parking facilities and shelters for public and active transport users
  • installation / upgrading of traffic signals and other intersection improvements
  • Installation / upgrading of other signage, line-marking or pavement marking to improve safety or compliance

DATE IMPLEMENTED: Not available

COST OF PROGRAM: Not available. Grants up to $500,000 available

COST TO USER: Funding usually provided on a 50:50 subsidy basis, e.g. co-funding between Department of Transport and Main Roads and local government

RESULTS OF EVALUATION: Not available

 28/02/2023 View
Active Travel to School Program: Walk to School
City of Whittlesea

PROGRAM FEATURES: 

  • Onine resources

DATE IMPLEMENTED: Not available

COST: Not available

 14/02/2023 View
Active Travel to School Program: Stroll & Roll
Latrobe City Council

PROGRAM FEATURES: 

  • Bike education facilitator training
  • TagOn or passports to record how student travelled to school
  • Student incentives
  • Installation of infrastructure such as Park & Walk zones
  • Active travel maps
  • Online resources

DATE IMPLEMENTED: 30 January 2022

COST OF PROGRAM: Not available

COST FOR USERS: None

RESULTS OF EVALUATION: Not available

 14/02/2023 View
Active Travel to School Program: Safe Routes to School Program
WestCycle

PROGRAM FEATURES: 

Part of Bike Friendly Schools Program

DATE IMPLEMENTED: Not available

COST: Not available

RESULTS OF EVALUATION: Not available

 30/01/2023 View
Active Travel to School Program: Whittlesea Active Travel in Schools
City of Whittlesea

PROGRAM FEATURES: 

  • Active travel study of local schools to determine barriers and enablers
  • Active Travel Forum for council staff
  • Influencing built enviroment to incorporate principles that support walkign and cycling into planning and transport strategies
  • Engage partents to co-creat social marketign campaign
  • Events: local Walk to School competition during Walk to School month
  • Leadership trainng for students
  • Support students to create videos advocating for imporived pedestrian infrastrcuture
  • Link schools to Walk and Ride to School programs
  • Establish School Active Travel Network
  • Resources kit
  • Grants

DATE IMPLEMENTED: 2013

COST: Not available

RESULTS OF EVALUATION: Not available

 30/01/2023 View
Active Travel to School Program: Port Sorell Primary School - Active Travel to School
Port Sorell Primary School

PROGRAM FEATURES: 

  • Cycle and Bike-path committee
  • Background research
  • Audits of walking and cycling routes
  • Engineering works wo timporve connectivity and safty of paths and road crossings
  • Signage
  • Extra garbage bins along routes
  • Bike racks installed at school and recreational facilities (for after school activities)
  • Newsletter

DATE IMPLEMENTED: 2013

COST: Not available

RESULTS OF EVALUATION: Not available

 30/01/2023 View
Active Travel to School Program: Safe school travel (SafeST) program
Queensland Government

PROGRAM FEATURES: 

DATE IMPLEMENTED: Not available

COST: Not available

RESULTS OF EVALUATION: Not available

 30/01/2023 View
Active Travel to School Program: Ipswich Healthy Active School Travel
City of Ipswich

PROGRAM FEATURES: 

  • Active travel social media posts
  • Personalised Active School Travel maps and magnets
  • Hi-Vis vests for walking group leaders

DATE IMPLEMENTED: Not available

COST: Not available

RESULTS OF EVALUATION: Not available

 30/01/2023 View
Active Travel to School Program: National Walk Safely to School Day
Pedestrian Council of Australia

PROGRAM FEATURES: 

  • Online resources

DATE IMPLEMENTED: Not available

COST: Not available. Free for schools.

RESULTS OF EVALUATION: Not available

 30/01/2023 View
Active Travel to School Program: Active School Travel, Sunshine Coast Council
Sunshine Coast Council

PROGRAM FEATURES: 

DATE IMPLEMENTED: Not available

COST: Not available

RESULTS OF EVALUATION: Not available

 30/01/2023 View
Active Travel to School Program: Bike Friendly Schools
WestCycle

PROGRAM FEATURES: 

  • Teacher accreditaion course: cycling
  • Educational resources
  • Teachers network
  • Learn to Ride
  • Bike hire
  • Bike maintenance courses
  • Bike skills sessions
  • Community bike events
  • After school activities
  • Fundraising events
  • Safe Routes to School Program

DATE IMPLEMENTED: Not available

COST: Not available

RESULTS OF EVALUATION: Not available

 30/01/2023 View
Active Travel to School Program: Your Move Schools
Department of Transport, WA

PROGRAM FEATURES: 

  • Hands up survey
  • Activities
  • Rewards
  • Support
  • Journey planner
  • Events
  • Online resources
  • Grants

DATE IMPLEMENTED: 2017

COST OF PROGRAM: Not available

COST FOR USERS: None

RESULTS OF EVALUATION: Not available

 30/01/2023 View
Active Travel to School Program: Walk to School Month
City of Moonee Valley

PROGRAM FEATURES: 

  • Journey planner showing:
    • Active paths
    • Park and walk paths
    • Dop off/pick up zones
    • Walking School Bus routes
  • Walking School Bus
  • Walk to School Month (November)
  • School crossing supervisors
  • Online resources

DATE IMPLEMENTED: Not available

COST: Not available

RESULTS OF EVALUATION: Not available

 30/01/2023 View
Active Travel to School Program: Walk to School (VicHealth)
VicHealth

PROGRAM FEATURES: 

  • Worksheets
  • Online resources
  • Communicatons kit for councils
  • Equirt assessment

DATE IMPLEMENTED: Not available

COST OF PROGRAM: Not available

COST FOR USERS: None

RESULTS OF EVALUATION: Not available

 30/01/2023 View
Active Travel to School Program: The Healthy Schools Achievement Program
Cancer Council Victoria

PROGRAM FEATURES: 

  • Online resources
  • Support
  • Recognition
  • Snapshot survey

DATE IMPLEMENTED: Not available

COST: Not available. Free for schools.

RESULTS OF EVALUATION: Not available

 30/01/2023 View
Active Travel to School Program: Move Well, Eat Well (Stride and Ride)
Department of Health, Tasmania

PROGRAM FEATURES: 

Stride and Ride:

  • Free balance bike and helmet sets for early years
  • Action plan
  • Starter pack booklet
  • Annual events
  • Online resources
  • Sample policies

DATE IMPLEMENTED: Not available

COST OF PROGRAM: Not available

COST FOR USERS: None

RESULTS OF EVALUATION: Not available

 30/01/2023 View
Active Travel to School Program: Way2Go Bike Ed
Department for Infrastructure and Transport, South Australia

PROGRAM FEATURES: 

  • Bike education program for up to 60 schools annually
  • Educates students on Australian Road rules, and how to safely ride on local roads
  • Bike checks undertaken by qualified technicians
  • Bike Ed program is funded via the over arching Way2Go program

DATE IMPLEMENTED:

  • Bike Education in some form has been supported by DIT since early 2000’s.
  • Way2Go Bike Ed commenced in 2009

COST OF PROGRAM: Not available

COST FOR USERS: Free for schools

RESULTS OF EVALUATION: Report

 30/01/2023 View
Active Travel to School Program: Way2Go
Department for Infrastructure and Transport, South Australia

PROGRAM FEATURES: 

  • Infrastructure program in conjunction with Local Government
  • Funding program for school end of trip facilities
  • Supply of school crossing equipment
  • School travel surveys
  • School enrolment mapping
  • Online resources

DATE IMPLEMENTED: Commenced in 2005 as Safe Routes to School, re-branded to Way2Go in 2009

COST OF PROGRAM: Not available

COST FOR USERS: Free for schools

RESULTS OF EVALUATION: Not available

 30/01/2023 View
Active Travel to School Program: Go Noosa Schools
Noosa Council

PROGRAM FEATURES: 

  • Support of a dedicated Noosa Council Project Officer
  • Project sponsor, Working group, school champions (students)
  • Site assessment and baseline survey
  • Travel plan, reviewed annually
  • Events (Ride2School Day, Walk to School Day, Bike week etc.)
  • Surveys
  • Resouces
  • Education
  • Meetings and workshops

DATE IMPLEMENTED: Not available

COST: Not available

RESULTS OF EVALUATION: Not available

 30/01/2023 View
Active Travel to School Program: Active School Travel, City of Gold Coast
City of Gold Coast

PROGRAM FEATURES: 

Schools that join the program receive a suite of resources including free toolkits, incentives and support. Including:

  • Fact sheets
  • Active School Travel Committee

Educational programs:

  • Riding Rulz bike skills
  • Police Citizens Youth Club bike skills
  • BUS IT Bus skills workshop

DATE IMPLEMENTED: Not available

COST: Not available

RESULTS OF EVALUATION: Not available

Case studies

 30/01/2023 View
Active Travel to School Program: Active School Travel Program, Brisbane City Council
Brisbane City Council

PROGRAM FEATURES: 

The Active School Travel (AST) program offers Brisbane primary schools a suite of free resources, tools and incentives to enable students, parents, carers and teachers to leave the car at home and actively travel to school.

Participating schools will receive access resources, including:

  • a dedicated Council expert tol work closely with the school’s AST committee and provide specialist advice on the best ways to increase active travel
  • rewards and incentives
  • customised active travel maps with identified active travel routes
  • assembly performances
  • free 60 minute bike and scooter skills training programs with a professional coach
  • RACQ Streets Ahead road safety sessions
  • bus orientation sessions for senior students covering essential skills such as hailing a bus, using a go card and expected behaviour on public transport
  • survey templates and materials for your weekly active travel days
  • tools to showcase the school's achievements
  • interclass and interschool competitions
  • curriculum links for teachers to use in the classroom.

Other resources:

  • Online active travel tips

DATE IMPLEMENTED: 2004

COST OF PROGRAM: FY 2022-23 $699,000

COST FOR USERS: Free for schools.

RESULTS OF EVALUATION:

Testimonials

Case study:

Since 2004, 168 schools and more than 127,000 students have participated in the program.

Achievements in 2021:

  • schools achieved over 60% active travel on a regular basis;
  • 245 kids attended bike skills sessions and 379 attended scooter skills sessions; and
  • 83% of parents felt their child’s road safety knowledge improved since being in the AST program.

Approximately 90% of AST committee members agreed the AST program helped to increase student physical activity levels and foster community cohesion at their school.

 30/01/2023 View
Active Travel to School Program: Active School Travel, Bicycle Queensland
Bicycle Queensland

PROGRAM FEATURES: 

Resources for schools:

  • Education & training for children
  • Training for teachers
  • Maps or journey planner
  • Online resources (e.g. fact sheets, information, tips)
  • Grants

Online resouces:

  • How to buy a kid's bike
  • Hand signals
  • Bike check
  • Parking your bike at school
  • Active Travel Checklist
  • Fitting your helmet

DATE IMPLEMENTED: 2021

COST OF PROGRAM: Not available. Funding provided by community road safety program

COST TO USERS: None

RESULTS OF EVALUATION: Not available

 17/01/2023 View
Active Travel to School Program: Darwin Safe and Active Routes to School Tool Kit
City of Darwin

PROGRAM FEATURES: 

A toolkit that provides a step by step approach for schools to create a program and activity for schools and families to promote active travel to school. The toolkit is divided into the following categories:

  • Governance
  • Catchment
  • Activities
  • Travel Plan
  • Local Environment

DATE IMPLEMENTED: August 2016

COST OF PROGRAM: Not available

COST TO USER: None

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: Other resources available are:

  • Templates
  • Surveys
  • Factsheet

RESULTS OF EVALUATION: Not available

 17/01/2023 View
Active Travel to School Program: Switch it Up
NSW Education

PROGRAM FEATURES: 

  • Online resources listing reasons to actively travel to and from school

DATE IMPLEMENTED: Not available

COST: Not available

RESULTS OF EVALUATION: Not available

 17/01/2023 View
Active Travel to School Program: BikeReady (NSW)
NSW Health

PROGRAM FEATURES: Resource to support communities and schools to encourage more young people to walk or cycle, and to involve young people in the development and implementation of an active travel initiative. Includes:

  • Resource for promoting active travel in young people
  • Action Plan template
  • Action Plan example
  • Surveys
  • Facilties review checklist

DATE IMPLEMENTED: Not available

COST: Not available

RESULTS OF EVALUATION: Not available

 17/01/2023 View
Active Travel to School: Bikes in Schools
Waka Kotahi New Zealand Transport Agency

PROGRAM FEATURES: 

A typical Bikes in Schools package includes:

  • fleet of 30-50 new good quality bikes (in different sizes)
  • bike helmet for every child
  • riding, pump and bike skills tracks
  • bike storage where needed
  • cycle skills training

Online resources also available, including bike games.

DATE IMPLEMENTED: Not available

COST: Not available

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: Part of program that also includes BikeReady

RESULTS OF EVALUATION: Not available

 17/01/2023 View
Active Travel to School Program: BikeReady (NZ)
Waka Kotahi New Zealand Transport Agency

PROGRAM FEATURES: 

  • Cycle skills training by experienced instructors
  • Curriculum resources for teachers

DATE IMPLEMENTED: Not available

COST: Not available

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: Part of program that also includes Bikes in Schools

RESULTS OF EVALUATION: Not available

 17/01/2023 View
Active Travel to School Program: Bikes for Schools
AusCycling

PROGRAM FEATURES: 

  • Libraries of donated bikes that are owned by schools and can be used by all students
  • AusCycling Foundation Instructor training to teachers and parents, so bike education can be embedded as part of the day-to-day activities at the school

DATE IMPLEMENTED: Not available

COST: Not available

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

Ride Nation funds:

  • The framework and set up for a bike donation day or connection with a partner that will accept and repurpose donated bikes to create the library.
  • Access to the online instructor training course and the conduct of the practical session and assessment onsite at the school at a time convenient to the participants.
  • Lesson plans and resources for the Ride Nation Schools bike education program, which consists of three levels – Skills, Confidence and Explore.
  • Ongoing support for the school to keep providing bike education for all students.

Plus they:

  • Facilitate the connection with community mentors to lead the donation drive and ensure the donated bikes are in good working order.

RESULTS OF EVALUATION: Not available

 16/01/2023 View
Active Travel to School Program: Ride Nation Schools
AusCycling

PROGRAM FEATURES: 

Ride Nation Schools is a learn-to-ride Bike Education Program delivered in schools Australia-wide. It is a fun and interactive learning experience that teaches young people to develop their riding skills and confidence – supporting kids in their independence and giving parents peace of mind.

DATE IMPLEMENTED: Not available

COST: Not available

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

There are three levels of bike education programs in schools:

Ride Nation - Skills (Playground): Recommended for grades 2-3, this 4–6-week program focuses on developing the essential bike control skills braking, balancing and riding. The skills learnt in this program will allow them to ride around in traffic free environments (school yard, park and around the block).

Ride Nation - Confidence (Pathways): Recommended for grades 3-5. Once grasping the essential bike control skills, participants are ready to develop their riding confidence. This 4-6-week program focuses on riding and situational awareness, providing students with the skills and competences to enable them to start riding on footpaths and shared pathway in low traffic environments. This program is ideal to start having students riding to and from school!

Ride Nation - Explore (Places): Recommended for grades 5-6. Looks at utilising all the skills learnt through previous programs and develop them in different cycling situations and explore their local area by developing road safety and situational awareness. The program consists of four weeks of practical skill development and learning and ends with two local community rides for children to understand what is in their community.

RESULTS OF EVALUATION: Not available

 16/01/2023 View
Active Travel to School Program: RideScore
We Ride Australia

PROGRAM FEATURES: 

RideScore Active Schools uses technology to direct message parents when their children have arrived safely at school.

The program uses:

  • Smart beacons to alert parents automatically when their child arrives at school
  • Advanced use of mapping to identify safe routes to school
  • App-based information and registration technology
  • Bicycle education, and
  • Encouragement awards for students who ride and scoot to school.

DATE IMPLEMENTED: November 219

COST: Not available

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

RESULTS OF EVALUATION: In progress

 16/01/2023 View
Active Travel to School Program: Open Streets
Bicycle Network

PROGRAM FEATURES: 

  • Open up the streets around schools at drop-off and pick-up times so that children and adults can walk and ride freely, without having to worry about car traffic
  • provides temporary infrastrcuture and signage to manage traffic

DATE IMPLEMENTED: Not available

COST: Not available

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

Part of suite of programs to help break down the barriers that prevent more students from staying active on their journey to school. Culminates in National Ride2School Day.

RESULTS OF EVALUATION: Not available

 16/01/2023 View
Active Travel to School Program: Ride2School
Bicycle Network

PROGRAM FEATURES: 

  • Bike education
  • Open Streets: open up the streets around schools at drop-off and pick-up times so that children and adults can walk and ride freely, without having to worry about car traffic
  • MIND.BODY.PEDAL: a series of four workshops in one day for secondary schools that aims to inspire more teenage girls to get active through bike riding
  • ActiveSuite: designated routes (ActivePaths) and local maps (ActiveMaps) that identify walking and riding routes within a 5-10 minute zone of a given school

DATE IMPLEMENTED: Not available

COST: Not available

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

Suite of programs to help break down the barriers that prevent more students from staying active on their journey to school. Culminates in National Ride2School Day.

RESULTS OF EVALUATION: Not available

 09/01/2023 View
Active Travel to School Program: School Crossing Supervisors
Transport Canberra and City Services

PROGRAM FEATURES: 

School crossing supervisors (lollipop people) to assist children to cross roads safely by directing traffic with a stop sign and providing instructions. They also help to manage the flow of pedestrians and motorists at the busiest crossings.

DATE IMPLEMENTED: 1 January 2018

COST OF PROGRAM: $700,000 per year

COST FOR USERS: None

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

Part of program incorporating infrastructure, signage (Active Streets), training and other resources (Ride or Walk to School) to encourage children to use active travel to get to and from school.

RESULTS OF EVALUATION: Not available

 09/01/2023 View
Active Travel to School Program: Active Streets for Schools (ACT)
Transport Canberra and City Services

PROGRAM FEATURES: 

  • Infrastructure improvements around schools
  • Stencils along popular walking and riding paths to promote walking and riding to school

DATE IMPLEMENTED: 1 July 2015

COST OF PROGRAM: $500,000 per year

COST FOR USERS: None

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

Infrastructure improvements include a combination of upgrades to existing infrastructure and new works, focusing on paths, crossings and treatments to slow vehicle speeds.

Blue stencils are installed along paths to provide wayfinding signage to local schools. The stencils give families the peace of mind the route to school is safe and easy to follow.

The stencils promote:

  • safe crossing locations (e.g. underpasses, dedicated crossings, traffic signals, refuge islands)
  • a safety in numbers approach by encouraging families to use similar routes
  • active school environments, which generate awareness within the community and encourage motorists to slow down.

Part of program incorporating training and other resources (Ride or Walk to School), and safety at school crossings (School Crossing Supervisors) to encourage children to use active travel to get to and from school.

RESULTS OF EVALUATION: Report

 09/01/2023 View