Bike To School
By Gord Ball – Special to SUNonline/Orillia
Bike to School Week runs from May 26 to 30, encouraging students in Orillia and area to ride their bikes instead of being driven to school. Biking is a fun, healthy, and eco-friendly way to travel.
Many children and youth in Canada aren’t getting enough exercise. Right now, only 39% meet the daily physical activity recommendation – that’s about four out of ten kids getting enough movement to stay healthy. When it comes to getting to school, just 43% of kids aged 5-17 walk or bike, meaning the majority are driven or take the bus. That’s a lot of kids missing out on a simple way to fit exercise into their day. Active School Travel helps kids reach 60 minutes of daily movement, among other benefits:
- Builds Independence – Kids learn confidence and road safety skills.
- Boosts Learning – Being active boosts focus, behaviour, and attendance, all key factors in better school performance.
- Creates Safer Streets – More bikers and walkers mean fewer cars near schools.
- Improves Air Quality – Less pollution makes the air cleaner for everyone.
- Fights Climate Change – Reducing car trips lowers greenhouse gas emissions, supporting Ontario’s goal of a 30% reduction by 2030.
Staying safe while riding a bike is just as important as choosing to ride in the first place. Children can get injured during wheeled activities due to inexperience, loss of control, lack of traffic safety skills, high speed, or attempting risky moves. Learning safe riding habits helps kids feel more confident on their bikes and reduces the risk of injury. To find tips on bike safety, visit Wheeled Activities Safety.
An example of an Orillia school promoting active school travel is Orchard Park Public School. Since 2019, the school has participated in the On the Move Initiative, encouraging students to walk and wheel all or even part way to school. This year, they celebrated their 3rd annual Movement Challenge and hosted their third Bike Rodeo during Family Learning Night May 1. The event gave students the chance to practice cycling skills, gain confidence, and learn about road safety. To top it off, the school held a draw for three bicycles, rewarding lucky students and inspiring the entire school community to keep moving.
If you’re biking to school, why not take it a step further? The Orillia Bike Challenge, organized by Sustainable Orillia, the Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit and The Bike Stop of Orillia runs from May 12 to July 14, and encourages families to cycle more and drive less. Every day you ride counts towards earning crests and winning prizes, making active travel even more rewarding.
Keep the momentum going. Register today and be part of a community-wide effort to stay active and make cycling a lifelong habit.
(Images Supplied)
