As part of a $2 million Cycle Towns grant to Orange City Council, schools were asked to send through information on the types of transport their students used.

Just 22 per cent of students were found to use active forms of commuting, with 17 per cent walking, 3 per cent cycling and 2 per cent either scooting or skating.

Of the 15 schools who responded, Spring Hill Public School was the most active, with 80 per cent of students travelling to school on their own steam, followed by Orange East Public School with 55 per cent.

At the other end of the spectrum, the schools relying most on motor vehicle transport were Spring Terrace Public School at 99 per cent and Kinross Wolaroi School’s prep campus at 84 per cent.

Barriers to active travel included traffic concerns, poorly designed or disconnected bike lanes and shared paths near the school, and distance.

Spring Hill principal Ann Marie McAnulty said the school prioritised exercise and provided fruit platters for the students each morning.

“By being active, it helps in the classroom,” she said.

Ms McAnulty said Spring Hill’s minimal traffic was a factor, but parents could often be seen pushing prams as their children rode their bikes.

Orange East principal Glen Bourke also said location was a factor and credited recently-completed linemarking and flashing school zone signs with slowing traffic. 

“That provides more safety from a parent’s perspective,” he said.

Australian Cycle Alliance board director Sara Stace said road safety was a lesser factor for children younger than 12 because they were allowed to ride on footpaths, but older students were required to ride on the road.

“Perhaps [councils] could make more shared paths, particularly along the safe routes to school and 40km/h zones could be extended to broader areas,” she said.

A Ride2School program will be formed, which will look at pathways leading to the schools and ways to store bicycles and helmets.

danielle.cetinski@fairfaxmedia.com.au