Recognising the benefits of active travel and the importance of student safety, Gulgong Public School has developed a unique Bike Bus initiative that encourages students to travel to school in a safe, healthy, and enjoyable way—while also strengthening connections with the local community.

The Bike Bus is a group of students who cycle to and from school along a set route, accompanied by supervising adults.

Following consultation with several Department of Education teams—including The Road Safety Education Team, Work Health and Safety, School Sport Unit, and Legal Services Deputy principal Sarah Price and the staff worked together to implement the initiative.

Key steps included:

• planning a safe route for students to travel to school by bike
• communicating with parents to build support and ensure awareness
• engaging local agencies, including the police, to assist with safety and visibility
• delivering explicit teaching and learning to educate students on safe riding behaviours.

With strong foundations in place, the Bike Bus was ready to roll.

The initial Bike Bus saw up to 40 students take part, and that number has grown to 55 for the second round.

And the school reports fantastic benefits for their students.

“It really has set up our students for an amazing and successful day at school as well as build their confidence. Teachers have noted the buzz around the school was different on both days we had the Bike Bus,” Deputy Principal Sarah Price said.

The Bike Bus has not only engaged the students but involved the entire community. Parents have joined in either riding or running along with their children, while community members have been clapping and cheering the riders.

The school is planning to run the Bike Bus once a term to celebrate the fun of riding and hopefully empower their students to ride safely to school more often.

It really has put the fun back into the school run.