Understanding the road rules for bike riders helps ensure everyone’s safety. Learn the essential cycling road rules in Victoria, including rules around using the road, bike lanes, helmets, bells, intersections and footpaths.
Mobility
Ride2School day - helping kids enjoy the benefits of riding
Whether your child is taking part in Ride2School for the first time or they regularly ride their bike or scooter, make sure they obey the road rules and know how to stay safe on the road.
National Ride2School Day is on Friday 21 March 2025. RACV and Bicycle Network have teamed up to provide Ride2School’s Bike Ed program, aimed at promoting active lifestyles and road safety awareness among Victorian primary school students, with RACV investing $200,000 as part of the two-year partnership.
Ride2School will focus on supporting students in the northwest and southeast of Melbourne to develop safe bike riding skills that encourage them to ride to school.
More than 350,000 students across the nation are expected to ride, walk, scoot and skate to school. Here's what you need to know about Ride2School, and how to support your kids to stay safe on the roads.
More: Discover RACV’s free primary school safety programs
What you need to know about Ride2School
What is Ride2School?
Ride2School is a nationwide program that encourages students to get physically active by walking, riding or skating to school.
The number of children who are physically active everyday has significantly dropped over the past 40 years, according to Ride2School's data. Just two out of 10 students walk or ride to school today, as opposed to eight out of 10 students in the 1970s.
"Learning to ride a bike safely encourages and empowers children to become physically active and Ride2School lays the foundation for lifelong healthy habits," says Bicycle Network CEO Alison McCormack.
"Riding to school helps children get their recommended daily physical activity needs and multiple studies have shown riding to school leads to better attendance, grades, cognitive performance and classroom behaviour."
What is the Bike Ed program?
Ride2School's Bike Ed program helps primary school students to develop safe bike riding skills that encourage them to ride to school.
The Victorian program is supported by both RACV and Bicycle Network and is aimed at grades three to six in Melbourne's northwest and southeast.
Road safety awareness and basic bike skills are both essential for students riding to school.
"Ride2School’s Bike Ed is a Bicycle Network program that we’re excited to support as it equips students with new, valuable life skills that makes riding a real commuting option for families," says RACV General Manager Mobility Julia Hunter.
"RACV is excited to support programs like this one that aim to lay the foundation for a future where active travel is the norm, promoting physical and mental well-being."
Ride2School encourages students to be active on their way to school. Image: Shannon Morris
What does Bike Ed teach?
Ride2School's Bike Ed program teaches students:
- bike skills - such as proper braking, gear changes, and basic bike maintenance
- bike safety - such as bike fit, ABCD and M safety checks, and correct riding body positions
- traffic and footpath safety - such as scanning, shoulder checks, where to ride, intersection and roundabout skills.
What should children wear when cycling?
Kids who are riding their bike should always wear an AS/NZS2063 standard helmet that fits properly. They should wear closed-toe shoes with laces tied or tucked in, and bright clothing to help cars identify them.
How can parents support Ride2School?
Parents can ask their child's school if they’re registered for National Ride2School Day. They can also ask their local council to promote the event and make sure their kids' bikes are ready to go.
Outside of National Ride2School Day, you can team up with other parents to have your kids ride to school together. You can lead by example by walking or riding to work yourself where possible. You can also spend time riding with your kids on weekends to teach them more about road rules and build up their bike confidence.
How you can help?
RACV is committed to making a difference through engaging with local communities to improve lives. Along with Bicycle Network’s Ride to School Bike Ed program, the RACV Community Foundation supports many other social impact programs through its partnerships with such organisations as Neighbourhood Watch, Streat, Yalari and Netball Victoria, to name a few. If you would like to support the RACV Community Foundation, you can make a donation using the banking details as below.
All donations over $2.00 are fully tax deductible. If you would like a receipt for your donation, please email foundation@community.racv.com.au.
Bank: NAB
BSB: 083-001
Account Number: 40-970-8004
Account Name: RACV Community Foundation Receipts
