children – canberra.bike

Slowing down: we know it but do not fix it?

Safer walking and cycling is most easily achieved by reducing traffic speed. We have known this for over a decade but do too little to curb road speeds. Here is a report from 2008 stating the case.

Riding to school in the snow

In Finland, children will ride to school on snow in subzero all year round. Clearly, the cold does not hold them back. Without a separated bike path and swept bike paths, it would not happen.

Pyrrhic victories in road safety

It is well-known that motor vehicles tend to squeeze vulnerable road users out of their space. With three tonnes of speeding motor vehicle approaching and the driver oblivious to your presence, this should not be a surprise. The most vulnerable of all are children.

Excessive speed takes its toll in Narrabundah

Concern is growing that it is just a matter of time before a child is killed in Narrabundah as a result of excessive speed on the roads.

ACT Road Safety Grants Fund

The ACT Government has a fund for road safety programs, education and awareness campaigns, audits, research and feasibility studies. This is a clever way to improve road safety in the ACT.

National Cycling Participation Survey

The National Cycling Participation Survey is unusual for Australia. It is a standardised survey that has been repeated every two years since 2011. Repeating the survey regularly is the only way to find and analyse trends. The survey provides data on cycling participation across Australia and estimates of participation in the ACT, too.

Ride to school quiz

question mark Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

Test your knowledge of cycling in the ACT. Part of the “It’s Your Move – Safe Cycle” ACT Government initiative, supported by Physical Activity Foundation, Resources for years 7-10.

Maps for kids

The Ride or Walk to School program encourages kids to ride to school by teaching them the skills they need to do it. Active Streets aims to improve the paths around schools to make it safe to do so. You will see the Active Street logo on these paths (see below).

Active travel is both bikes and pedestrians, ACT Government

Ride or Walk to School: Physical Activity Foundation

The Physical Activity Foundation runs the ACT ride to school program. Schools are not resourced for this sort of thing. Bikes, for example, are not something schools would own. Clearly, a child can only learn to ride on a bike. Not every family may be able to afford the bike. Schools hire instruments but not bikes. Here is how it is done.

“The Physical Activity Foundation is a registered Health Promotion Charity based in the ACT and our goal is to reduce the incidence of sedentary lifestyle diseases in children.”
About Us, Physical Activity Foundation

Child’s play: primary school cycling safety

The ACT Government has a program for cycling safety for primary school children. One of the lessons identifies cycling hazards. The examples are found everywhere in Canberra. Perhaps we should send the ACT planners back to school. The hazards take a long time to fixed.