Page 1357 - Week 04 - Thursday, 30 March 2017

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coordinated by Stephen Hodge for a documentary re-enactment of the 1928 Tour de France; a guided walk of the Jerrabomberra wetlands; a public forum hosted by urban synergies group; guided mountain bike commutes to work, hosted by the Parks and Conservation Service; a child-friendly cities workshop, again hosted by urban synergies group, which I had the pleasure of opening; and an active travel information stall at the Seniors Expo, where the government’s electric bike attracted a lot of interest.

The ACT government and the Heart Foundation also hosted two international active travel experts during the week. We are keen to build on the success of Canberra walk and ride week in 2018.

MS CHEYNE: Minister, what is the government doing to encourage more active travel to and from schools?

MS FITZHARRIS: The government is doing a lot to encourage more active travel to and from schools. We have one of the best walking and cycling path networks in Australia. However it is under-utilised, while our road network continues to become more congested, particularly around schools.

The number of children riding or walking to school has reduced over the past few years, but it is something we would like to see more of. We want walking and cycling to school to become the norm again. Cycling, walking, scooting or skating are simple ways to incorporate physical activity into everyday lives and journeys. In today’s time-poor society, undertaking incidental exercise throughout the day is an ideal way to maintain a healthy weight and lifestyle.

To support this, the ACT government is delivering a number of initiatives to engage the community in active travel, particularly kids. Our ride or walk to school program aims to increase the number of children who walk, ride, scoot or take public transport to school. It provides schools with the resources and support they need to help children feel confident, and importantly to help their parents to have confidence that their kids can safely travel to and from school. We have already delivered the program to more than 60 schools and we will expand the program to 108 schools over the next couple of years.

To support the ride or walk to school program, an active streets for schools pilot was launched at four primary schools in Belconnen in 2016. It included an educational campaign and infrastructure improvements around schools to make the environment safer for kids. We will continue to expand active streets to a further 25 schools over the next two years and, beyond that, to more schools around the territory.

I am very conscious of the safety concerns associated with active travel that many parents have. To help overcome the real or even perceived risk for parents and families, the ACT government last year introduced a schools transport coordinator. We are developing a pilot for the school crossing supervisor program, as well as many activities delivered directly with schools to encourage kids to walk and cycle.


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