Active travel

As the name suggests, children’s active travel involves modes of transport which require physical activity. 

This may include walking, cycling, riding a scooter or a skateboard and it can be to any destination. For children, school is the most common destination.

Active travel has many great health benefits as it encourages children to be active and take less sedentary transport. Much like other forms of physical activity, the additional benefits of active transport include improved concentration, self-esteem and independence.  

Did you know?

Children who cycle or walk to school experience improved concentration levels lasting up to 4 hours after the activity.

Tips to increase active transport

Plan safe routes with your children

It's important to make sure that you and your children are aware of the safest and most direct routes to school. This knowledge can help your child feel more confident when using active transport. 

If routes to and from school are not safe, it is a good idea to speak with your child's school about your concerns and advocate for safer routes.They may be able to help by contacting their local Road Safety Education Officers to make the routes safer for your school community.

Set achievable targets

Set a goal that will be reasonable for you and your child. For example, pick one day of the week that suits the family to increase active transport on the way to work and school. 

A great initiative that many schools encourage is "walk or wheel, once a week". If you can only spare 5 minutes and an extra block to school each week with your child, this is better than not. Every bit of movement counts!

Take public transport more frequently than driving

When children aren’t being dropped off directly at the school gate, they naturally increase their active transport. Children get in extra steps at the start and end of the trip as they travel to and from bus stops or stations.

Park and walk

Not every child will be able to walk directly from home to school and back. Find what is manageable for you as a family. 

To increase your movement throughout the day, you may like to consider:

  • leaving home earlier
  • parking further away
  • walking an extra 5-10 minutes to your child's school.

When you go to pick up your child, try to park further away and use the extra time walking back to the car to ask your child about their day. This can be a great opportunity to bond with your child while also getting more movement throughout the day.

If this option isn't achievable throughout the week, try 'parking and walking' on the weekends. You could try this when visiting:

  • shopping centres
  • organised sport
  • family or friends houses.

Involve other parents or children in your area

Community involvement in active travel to and from school can help increase overall physical activity in the area. 

Walking school buses are an excellent way to promote physical activity within a community. A walking school bus is a group of children who walk to and from school along a set safe route, accompanied by adult "drivers" who supervise the children. It is a safe and effective way to increase physical activity before and after school for children as well as adult volunteers. Consider asking your child's school if they have or are interested in implementing a similar program.

Teach your child to ride a bike

When children know how to ride a bike safely and confidently, they are more likely to enjoy the experience. Look out for some bicycle skills training in your area. Often, schools will incorporate some bike safety skills into active travel days.

Seek out end-of-trip facilities

Many schools encourage students to be active on the way to school. See if your child's school offers end-of-trip facilities such as bike racks. This will help children have a place to park their active transport while they are at school.

If your child's school doesn't have end-of-trip facilities, get involved to see if you are able to advocate for such facilities to increase active transport.

Participate in active transport events at school

Your child's school may participate in active transport events such as:

You may want to check with your child's school to see if they host any of these events, or similar events to these. It is a great opportunity to get active as a community.

Active travel participation

In the last 40 years, the number of children who are walked or rode to school has significantly declined from 8 out of 10 to today's numbers of 2 out of 10. 

Road safety and active travel 

Safety is the number one priority when children are using active transport to get to and from school. It is usually the number one concern for parents, but if you are aware of the road safety features ahead of time and practice behaviours with your child, cycling or walking to school can be a very safe activity. 

If your child is under 10 years old:

  • always supervise them closely and hold their hand when walking across roads or driveways
  • where possible, always try to find a pedestrian crossing, a set of traffic lights or a school crossing supervisor
  • allow your child to cycle in a safe place away from roads and driveways. 

If your child is over 10 years old:

  • where they are confident on routes and road signals, children can ride by themselves
  • make sure they always wear a bike helmet that complies with Australian and New Zealand safety standards. 

See safety around cars for more information.