Stroll to school for health

Natalie from Insight Education Centre rides a bike on the Tactile bike path during last year's Walk to School initiative. 161084

An annual initiative aimed at promoting health and fitness in school children has returned to Cardinia Shire.
VicHealth’s Walk to School is encouraging primary students to ditch the car and walk, ride, scoot or skate to school for the month of October.
Cardinia Shire Council has once again jumped on board the initiative and is spruiking the benefits of active travel.
“Leaving the car at home means there is less traffic congestion around schools, it is better for the environment and it is better for families who get to spend quality time together while improving their health and fitness,” Cardinia Mayor Brett Owen said.
For families who live too far to walk the entire distance there are 19 stop and drop places in Cardinia Shire.
These are designated areas, up to a kilometre away from the school entrance, where parents can drop off and pick up their children, allowing the children to walk, ride, scoot or skate the rest of the way.
The mayor said students who were unable to actively come to school could still take part by doing other activities during the school day, for example completing laps of the oval or basketball courts.
All children who participate in the walk to school program during October can go into the draw to win prizes from Life of Bikes either by collecting a raffle ticket at school or by sending in a family selfie to mail@cardinia.vic.gov.au, along with their name, contact details and location of where the picture was taken. For more information, go to www.cardinia.vic.gov.au/walktoschool.