RACV and Bicycle Network have teamed up to provide Ride2School’s Bike Ed program, aimed at promoting active lifestyles and road safety awareness among Victorian primary school students, with RACV investing $200,000 as part of the two-year partnership.
Ride2School will focus on supporting students in the northwest and southeast of Melbourne to develop safe bike riding skills that encourage them to ride to school.
The Ride2School program launched yesterday at Doherty’s Creek P-9 College in Truganina, with 175 students taking part in a special assembly that also unveiled a fleet of 12 Giant bicycles, funded by RACV, and helmets donated by Lazer.
As part of the launch Dr Cranky’s Bicycle Hospital will provide onsite bike maintenance to ensure students have access to safe and well-maintained bicycles.
Bicycle Network CEO Alison McCormack welcomed RACV’s support for Ride2School’s Bike Ed, a beloved Victorian program that has supported thousands of students in Victoria for almost two decades.
“Learning to ride a bike safely encourages and empowers children to become physically active and Ride2School lays the foundation for lifelong healthy habits,” Ms McCormack said.
“Riding to school helps children get their recommended daily physical activity needs and multiple studies have shown riding to school leads to better attendance, grades, cognitive performance and classroom behaviour.”
RACV General Manager Mobility Julia Hunter said Ride2School is designed to provide students with essential bike and road safety skills.
“Ride2School’s Bike Ed is a Bicycle Network program that we’re excited to support as it equips students with new, valuable life skills that makes riding a real commuting option for families,” Ms Hunter said.
Ride2School Bike Ed program is aimed at grades three to six and RACV and Bicycle Network will together identify ways to help schools improve their active travel rate.
“RACV is excited to support programs like this one that aim to lay the foundation for a future where active travel is the norm, promoting physical and mental well-being,” said Ms Hunter.
For further information about RACV’s free primary school safety programs, visit.racv.com.au/education.
-ENDS-
Additional quote attributed to RACV General Manager Mobility Julia Hunter:
“RACV recommends that road safety education is implemented at both primary and secondary schools and should continue to be supported and funded with Victorian-wide online and in-person education programs that embed road safety principles. This includes rules and behaviours when walking, cycling or learning to drive.”
Further information
High-res images and a TV video news reel are available for use, please email the media teams below for higher resolution images.
TV Video news reel available here. Speakers include:
- Neville Stephens, Physical Education Teacher, Dohertys Creek P-9 College
- Julia Hunter, RACV General Manager Mobility
- Alison McCormack, Bicycle Network CEO
About Bicycle Network
Bicycle Network is Australia’s biggest bike riding organisation, supported by nearly 50,000 members nationwide.
We are a registered Australian health charity, and a nationally trusted organisation that collaborates to advocate, educate and innovate on behalf of all people who want to ride.
Our vision is a healthy, sustainable society, where everyone can safely ride a bike every day.
We campaign to build more places to ride, fight for riders’ rights and make bike riding safer for all Australians.
We run world class events and programs including United Energy Around the Bay, Great Vic Bike Ride, Ride2School and Ride2Work.
For more information visit bicyclenetwork.com.au. Follow Bicycle Network on Twitter at @Bicycle_Network, Facebook at /BicycleNetwork and Instagram at @Bicycle_Network
About RACV
Since 1903, RACV has been one of Australia’s most trusted brands and is the largest member organisation in Victoria.
RACV is proud to provide exceptional experiences for our members and customers through a range of products and services across motoring and mobility, home, energy and leisure. These include emergency roadside assistance, motor insurance, home insurance, home trades and an increasing range of options in the cleaner energy space, such as RACV Solar. We have 10 clubs and resorts across Australia and offer a range of domestic and international holiday packages, tours and cruises from our trusted travel partners.
The information provided is general advice only. Before making any decisions please consider your own circumstances and the Product Disclosure Statement and Target Market Determinations. For copies, visit racv.com.au. As distributor, RACV Insurance Services Pty Ltd AFS Licence No. 230039 receives commission for each policy sold or renewed. Products issued by Insurance Manufacturers of Australia Pty Ltd ABN 93 004 208 084 AFS Licence No. 227678.
RACV Trades is a trading name of RACV's trade partner, Club Home Response Pty Ltd (Victorian registered domestic building practitioner number CDB U 100178). All works are performed or arranged by Club Home Response Pty Ltd. trading as RACV Trades.
Key Facts:
High res images available upon request.
TV Video news reel available here.
Speakers:
Neville Stephens, Physical Education Teacher, Dohertys Creek P-9 College
Julia Hunter, RACV General Manager Mobility
Alison McCormack, Bicycle Network CEO
Contact details:
RACV Media
0417 041 398
Bicycle Network Media
0402 100 093