Out of a total of 770 pupils attending two primary schools in Sutherland Shire, only about 30 ride their bikes to classes each day.
Sutherland Shire Council hopes the number will rise substantially after years 4, 5 and 6 complete an eight-week program in which cycle skills training will be integrated into physical education classes.
The Cycle to School project is on trial at Sutherland North Public School and Woolooware Public School.
Depending on the results, the program could be expanded into other schools in the shire.
The project, which will also give parents and teachers the opportunity to learn riding skills and basic cycle maintenance, is a joint initiative of the council and Roads and Maritime Service (RMS).
The council and RMS’s Connecting Centres (Cycling) Program are contributing equally to the $35,000 cost of the program, which is being run by private provider Rideability Cycle Education.
Fiona Young, the principal of Sutherland North Primary School, which has 267 pupils, said their 17-slot bike rack was normally big enough for the number of pupils who rode to school.
“We hope to see a big increase in interest from pupils and parents and we we are also looking at providing a better storage facility for bikes,” she said.
“We need our kids on bikes to help with obesity issues as well as the traffic situation.
”There is huge traffic congestion around here both in the morning and afternoon when parents are dropping off and picking up.
“We simply haven’t got capacity for car parking out on the street.”
Ms Young said the program would also benefit children with sensory issues, helping them to engage more in academic programs in the classroom.
Ms Young said she hoped the program would give parents more confidence to allow their children to ride to school.
”Parents don’t feel the roads are safe,” she said.
“I think this program will increase their confidence and, hopefully, we will engage parents in skills and knowledge.”
Ms Young, said in respect of “stranger danger”, school staff were advised during a briefing by Rideability children on bikes, particularly when riding together, were less of a target than those who were walking.
“This program aims to get children riding in groups,” she said.
Woolooware Primary School principal Jason Ezzy said only about 12 of 500 pupils rode to school.
”I think parents are a bit reluctant to let them ride because they are not confident their children have road sense and road safety skills,” he said.
“One of the things we are looking to do is work with the parent body to make the program sustainable after the program finishes.”
Mr Ezzy said the idea of a bike train, led by a parent and with pick-up points along a route, was one idea that had been discussed, and the P&C was keen.
Mayor Carmelo Pesce said the council was providing new and safety focused cycling infrastructure in the shire and wanted to encourage community involvement “in this active and environmentally friendly form of transport”.
Cr Pesce said the state government was keen to see how the trial worked in the shire, and it could be expanded.
Rideability director, Rebecca Randazzo said bicycling was “a fun and healthy form of transportation”.
“With parental, neighbourhood and school support, we can get children and adults to reconnect with cycling in a safe way,” she said
“Research has shown that one in three students would actually prefer to ride to school, and with two in four children now overweight or obese, the humble bike is a practical, cost effective and healthy solution.”
