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Active travel toolkit

Active Travel to Schools Project (2025–early 2026)


From 2025 to early 2026, Western Sydney Health Alliance (WSHA) implemented the Active Travel to Schools project with six schools across our region. We spoke with parents, walked and assessed local streets, worked with Bicycle NSW, and met with school staff to better understand the barriers to walking and riding to school.

The below resources are for schools to use to promote walking and cycling.

Safest school routes

Resource Name Resource Description How can I use this?
Finalised maps Map showing the recommended safe routes and key crossing points to and from school.
  • Print and display in classrooms, the front office, website and newsletters.
  • Use in class to discuss “how to choose a safe route” (footpaths, crossings, visibility)
  • Send home so families can practise the route together before trying it solo
Walkthrough Step-by-step written description of the recommended route, including crossing locations and hazards to watch for.
  • Read through as a class before a walk-to-school day or active travel week
  • Send home as a “practice guide” so families can trial the route together
  • Use it as a student checklist: “What hazards did you notice?” “Where do you stop and look?” “Which crossings do you use?”
  • Pair with the map: students highlight the hazards/crossings mentioned in the walkthrough

Promotional Toolkit

Resource Name Resource Description How can I use this?
Mapping Communications plan + ready-to-use messaging to promote the safe route maps to your school community.
  • Copy/paste messages into newsletter, Compass/School app, Facebook, and assemblies
  • Reuse for key moments: start of term, event days, “back to school”, daylight savings
Helmet safety Short educational messaging promoting helmet safety for children riding/scooting to school.
  • Send as a quick reminder post before ride-to-school events
  • Add to newsletters + a one-slide assembly reminder
Parent newsletter  Parent-friendly newsletter text summarising the project
  • Use as a featured newsletter item when maps are released
  • Attach/link the safe route map and include “try it once this week” call-to-action
  • Pair with a simple prompt: “Practise the route together this weekend”
  • Re-send mid-term as a reminder (especially before event days)
Communications to promote safe active travel (Department messaging) Department-aligned messaging that reinforces safe travel expectations and a consistent school-wide approach.
  • Use as your approved language for newsletters/parent comms to keep messaging consistent
  • Include in the school’s safe travel page on the website/app
Parent newsletter comms (walking + riding safety) Parent messaging focused on keeping children safe while walking and riding (general safety guidance).
  • Use as a standalone safety item even if your maps aren’t ready yet
  • Schedule around risk periods: winter mornings, wet weather, daylight savings change

Active Travel Toolkit

“I want to run a quick classroom / school activity this week”

Resource category Resource Name Resource description How can I use this?
Student incentives Walk and ride activity booklet Booklet template for students to fill out about their walking and riding plan
  • Use as a one-lesson activity: students plan their safest route, crossings, and a “practice with an adult” goal
  • Send home as a family homework task (complete together, then bring back)
  • Use as a class challenge starter (set a weekly walk/ride goal and reflect at the end of the week)
Student incentive templates Pre-built templates (passports, tracking sheets, certificates) for encouraging walking/riding frequency
  • Run a 2–4 week “Walk/Ride Passport”: students tick off days they actively travel (or park-and-walk)
  • Use tracking sheets for a class or stage challenge (e.g., “10 active trips in a month”)
  • Print certificates for recognition moments (assembly shout-outs, class awards)
  • Keep it inclusive: allow alternatives like “park 5–10 mins away and walk” or “walk/scoot part-way”

“I want to run an event”

Resource category Resource Name Resource description How can I use this?
Programs and events Bicycle education centre info Information on local bike education resources available to schools in Campbelltown
  • Share with your wellbeing/PE lead to book a school session (skills + safety)
  • Promote to families as an optional skill-building opportunity (especially for students new to riding)
  • Use as a term activity alongside your safe route maps (build confidence before riding to school)
  • Invite the centre to support an event day (e.g., Ride2School) where possible
Bicycle holiday program Information on one-off programs to introduce your child to the joy of bike riding in a safe and fun environment.
  • Include in newsletters as a holiday option for families to build riding skills safely
  • Recommend to families whose children want to ride/scoot but need confidence first
Ride2School day Information about the national ride to school day
  • Choose a date and run a Ride2School event (1 morning) to build excitement
  • Pair with incentives (passport/certificates) for the week of the event
  • Celebrate participation in assembly/newsletter to reinforce the habit
National Walk to school day Information about the national walk to school day
  • Run as a whole-school “walk-in” morning (or class-by-class)  low cost, high visibility
  • Encourage “park and walk” for families who live far away (5–10 min walk counts)

“I want training for myself or my colleagues/staff”

Resource category Resource Name Resource description How can I use this?
Teacher training Road safety education: Safe active travel K–12 Information on professional learning supports school leaders and teachers to adopt a whole school approach when embedding safe active travel initiatives into school routines.
  • Use this as your staff upskilling option: nominate 1–2 staff to complete the professional learning and share key takeaways

“I want to share resources with parents”

Resource category Resource Name Resource description How can I use this?
Information on Safe Active travel Promoting safe travel (DoE) Resources to support schools in sharing road safety information with the whole school community. (NSW Education)
  • Pick 1–2 messages to share this term(newsletter/Compass/assembly)
Safety Town – Keep your child safe (Families) Safety information for children riding and walking.
  • Link in newsletters and social media
Ride to school / Walk to school promotional content (DoE hub) Engaging promotional messaging supporting both walking and riding uptake at school. (NSW Education)
  • Use as ready-made promo blurbs for newsletters/social posts
  • Add a simple call-to-action: “Try it once this week” or “Park & walk the last 5 mins”
Walking safely to and from school (DoE – parents/carers) Information about the benefits of walking and cycling, plus safety advice. (NSW Education)
  • Copy/paste a short section into a parent newsletter (health + safety benefits)
  • Link when promoting your safe route maps: “Practise together once before solo walking”
Riding safely to and from school (DoE – parents/carers) Recommendations and safety tips for riding to school. (NSW Education)
  • Send to families before any ride-to-school push (helmets, route safety, readiness)
Healthy lifestyle programs for primary schools – Childrens active travel (NSW Health HEAL) Explains what active travel is and how to encourage young people. (NSW Health)
  • Use to frame the “why” (health + wellbeing) in staff and parent messaging
  • Pull one idea to include in class or wellbeing programs (e.g., active travel discussion prompt)
Promoting active travel in young people (PDF – NSW Health) Resource explaining what active travel is and how to encourage young people. (NSW Health)
  • Use as your staff reference guide when planning activities or comm
  • Lift 2–3 practical strategies to trial this year (e.g., incentives, student voice, targeted messaging)

“I want support and training” 

Resource category Resource Name Resource description How can I use this?
Other resources St Marys Community and Road Education Scheme (CARES) The St Marys Community and Road Education Scheme (CARES) is a purpose-built bicycle safety education facility that gives school students an interactive and fun way to learn about road safety.
  • Book as an excursion/incursion option to teach practical road safety and riding behaviours
  • Promote to families as a local skill-building opportunity to support safe riding
Department of Education bicycle/wheeled devices templates Templates developed to support schools to safely manage bicycles, e-bikes and other wheeled devices being ridden to and from school, communicate safe riding expectations to parents and carers, and reinforce their responsibility for their child’s safety.
  • Use with parents and students to support safe riding