Starting school? Try walking, cycling or scooting instead of driving
It’s a new year and that means many children have finished kindergarten and are about to start primary school.
This exciting transition brings lots of new things for families to consider, such as uniforms, lunch boxes and how to get to school.
Be cool and walk, cycle or scoot to school
There are many ways to get to and from school in Moonee Valley. Why not try walking, cycling or scooting instead of driving? Leaving the car behind is better for your family’s health, it’s good for the environment and helps you connect with people in your local community.
Our guide to walking, cycling or driving to school
The following list will help you map your route from home to school and choose from a variety of travel options. By planning ahead, your first day of school will be a seamless and safe journey.
- Map your route
We have created a map that makes it easy to find safe and fun routes to school. Begin by searching your school’s name, then zoom out to explore the various travel options, including:
- Active Paths: Routes identified by Council as direct, safe and fun, marked by footpath decals to guide students to school
- Park & Walk Locations: Locations that are within walking distance to school, where families who live further than 2km away can park and walk from
- Pink Drop Off Zones: Bright-pink zones where students can be dropped off and picked up. Learn how to correctly use the pink zones here.
- Walking School Bus: Specific routes as guided by two volunteers to ensure safety for your children, if your school doesn’t have one, talk to us about starting a Walking School Bus at your school.
Explore your travel options on the map.
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Do a trial journey to school
Prepare for the first day of school by doing a trial walk or cycle, either the whole way or part way from home. Walking and cycling plays an important role in an active and healthy lifestyle, and it is also an opportunity to introduce road safety language.
By doing a trial journey, your children can familiarise themselves with the area around your home and community, which helps to build a connection to their surroundings.
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Join your school’s Walking School Bus
A Walking School Bus is a fun and social way for primary school-aged children to travel to school. A group of children are guided by two adults who collect students from stops on the way to school. If your school has a Walking School Bus, you can join by completing a form and forwarding to your school. If you would like to volunteer, please complete a volunteer application form and send to Council.
Find out if your school has a Walking School Bus and learn more.
If you have any questions about road safety around schools in Moonee Valley, please contact Council’s Transport Project Officer on 9243 8888 or visit our Schools page for more information.
You can also download our free flyers to keep for your own reference or spread the word and share amongst your network!
Download the Better Moves Around Schools informational flyer