Riding

Parents and carers are responsible for a student's travel to and from school. Schools take over responsibility and duty of care for the student once they enter the school premises.

Benefits of riding to and from school

Being a safe active traveller can help:

reduce traffic
reduce our carbon footprint
promote physical activity
provide an opportunity for supervising adults to talk with their child about road safety.

Schools often work together with their community to agree on guidelines for riding to and from school.

Primary aged students are safest when they are supervised by an adult when riding. Children under 16 can now ride on the footpath unless there are signs prohibiting cycling.

Every school's surrounding traffic environment is different. Every school's entry and exit rules for students are different and are therefore managed differently.

The department encourages riding as one way to be physically active. Sometimes the busy roads and conditions around the outside of the school can impact student safety. Riding may not be the safest option. Schools can support and encourage safety for everyone with consistent safety on wheels' advice and reminders for students, parents and carers.

What is taught in schools about wheel safety?

Schools want their students and community to be safe. Wheels safety can be taught as part of the PDHPE K-10 syllabus, reinforcing safe, legal use of bikes, scooters and skateboards.

Key road safety messages for primary aged students have been developed by Transport for NSW to ensure consistent messages for children across NSW.

Safety Town is an online primary school resource that provides teaching and learning activities that reinforces safe riding practices, as part of the K-6 PDHPE syllabus.

High school students explore the importance of safe decision making when riding, and being a safe road user in their local context. Schools are encouraged to use Onthemove, a secondary school online resource developed by TfNSW.

Riding advice to share with parents and carers

Schools can support their parents and carers with articles/information shared through their communication channels;

Travelling safely to and from school on a bike or scooter
What if my child wants to skateboard to and from school?
Download - Ride a bicycle safely (pdf 1258.46KB) TfNSW
Information about travelling independently.
Safety and rules for bicycle riders (Service NSW)

Advice to schools about riding safely to and from school

Schools can:

refer to the department's legal advice about riding to school – Duty of care and behaviour management – questions about road safety (staff only).
provide bicycle/wheeled device guidelines to parents/carers and students about bringing bikes onto school grounds. (sample bicycle and wheeled device templates available - staff only)
regularly remind students, parents and carers about the importance of riding safely, wearing a helmet and storing their wheeled devices in the right place at school. (sample not wearing a helmet letter templates available - staff only)

What the law says

Scooters, skateboards, and rollerblades (wheeled recreation devices) are subject to NSW Road Rules.
Cyclists in NSW must also follow the road rules. Children under 16 and older riders who are supervising them may ride on footpaths unless signs specifically prohibit it.
Children over 16 may not ride on footpaths unless they are shared footpaths. When riding on the road, riders need to keep to the left and where possible use marked bike lanes.
All riders must keep to the left and give way to pedestrians.
It is legal to ride on some small roads however Transport for NSW recommends children do not ride scooters, skateboards or rollerblades on roads. We fully support this recommendation.
It's the law to wear a helmet in public spaces when on a bicycle.

Refer to Information for parents and carers about safety on wheels (385.44KB) pdf (Transport for NSW)

Safe bikes

All bikes must be in good safe working order fitted with working brakes, reflectors, a bell and lights if being used at night.
A bell and brake are required by law when riding in public
A guide to bicycle maintenance safety check should be done before any trip on a bike and regular maintenance is recommended.
A guide to wheeled devices maintenance such as skateboards, rollerblades and scooters

Helmets and safety gear

Cyclists of all ages are required by law to wear a correctly fitted and fastened helmet that meets the Australian Standard (AS/NZS 2063). Parents and carers are asked to support the school and the department by complying with this law.
Schools may advise parents or carers if a student is not wearing a helmet. The school may request the student not bring their bike onto school grounds. (sample letter templates available - staff only)
Transport for NSW recommends riders of scooters and skateboards wear an approved helmet (meets Australian standard (AS/NZS 2063) and protective gear such as knee pads and elbow pads. The department supports this recommendation.

Unsafe riding behaviour

We like schools to be safe places for everyone. Principals can deny permission for a student bringing a bike, scooter or skateboard into the school if the school deems that the student is displaying unsafe behaviours when travelling to and from school, or if it considers bringing the wheeled device onto school property will affect the safety of others.

If a student does not meet the safety requirements, the school will advise parents or carers and may request the student not bring their bike, scooter or skateboard onto school grounds.

Storing bikes and helmets at school

Not all schools have the facilities to store students' bikes. The decision to install and maintain bike racks is made by the school. Some schools choose not to have bikes brought into the school. This may be due to safety reasons, or the inability to safely secure bikes. Principals have the authority to stop students from bringing bikes, scooters and skateboards onto school property.
Bikes need to be stored in the area specified by the school. The school accepts no responsibility for loss, damage or theft. We recommend that students lock their bikes with a secure chain.
The school may assist with safe storage of helmets if space permits.

The facts on riding motorised wheeled devices in NSW

The latest and current information to share with your school community.

Motorised devices are illegal for travelling to and from school.

TfNSW is currently trialling the use of these devices in some locations. It is limited to electric scooter shared services, not privately owned scooters.

Go to Transport for NSW for more information about the trial

Cycling School Bus

A cycling school bus is a group of primary school children who ride bicycles (or another wheeled device) to and/or from school along a set route, accompanied by supervising adults. One adult drives at the front of the 'bus' while another adult supervises at the rear of the 'bus'. The cycling school bus picks up passengers at designated cycling bus stops on the way to and/or from school.

The responsibility for a child's travel to and from school remains a parent's responsibility.

If your school community is interested in implementing a cycling school bus please read these key considerations. Contact your Road Safety Education Officer to find out more.