Schools across the Ballarat Electorate have been urged to participate again this year in the Bicycle Networks tenth National Ride2School Day on March 4.
Federal Member for Ballarat and Shadow Minister for Health, Catherine King, said the initiative was extremely valuable in promoting healthier lifestyles for the region’s young people.
“I have visited schools in the past on Ride2School day and seen the great enthusiasm among our kids and all at the school,” Ms King said.
“I want more and more kids to get on their bikes, skateboards and scooters and make their way to school in the healthiest ways possible.
“If we promote this good exercise in people when they are young it is more likely they will continue to lead healthier and happier lifestyles as they grow through adult life.
“Sadly the last 30 years has seen a rapid decline in children being physically active.
“In the 1970’s more than 80 per cent of students walked or rode to school but that number has fallen shockingly to 20 per cent today despite the fact that most primary students still live within two kilometres of their school gate.”
Last year more than 400,000 children from 2,041 Australian schools participated in National Ride2School Day by riding, walking, scooting or skating to school.
“The day celebrates an active journey to school and aims to empower children, through routine physical activity, with the tools to combat the alarming threat of chronic diseases in modern life such as obesity and diabetes,” Ms King said.
“I encourage all schools to give their students an opportunity to participate this year on the 10th occasion of National Ride2School Day.”