The Andrews Labor Government is encouraging more students to cycle to school safely with Ride2School Day reaching more than 100 additional schools across the state.

Minister for Roads, Road Safety and the TAC Jaala Pulford visited North Melbourne Primary School this morning as part of Ride2School Day to see how students plan their journey to school safely.

North Melbourne Primary School is one of over 430 schools around the state partnering with Bicycle Network to make riding to school a safer and more attractive mode of transport for students.

The ‘Active and Safe Travel’ project funded by the Transport Accident Commission aims to improve road safety by educating drivers about how to share the roads with cyclists and teaching students about safe riding practices.

Around a third of North Melbourne Primary students are driven to school, which is why the project also includes active transport maps to encourage more families to leave the car at home and ride instead.

National Ride2School Day is part of the Ride2School Program, which works with schools to remove barriers to cycling and promote active travel. The program funds a range of projects from bicycle-parking facilities and sheds to identifying safe routes to and from school.

The Labor Government recently expanded the popular Ride2School program, with schools across the state benefitting from the $1.4 million funding boost.

Studies show that one in four children are not getting enough exercise and an early ride or walk to school is a great way to ensure students are energised and ready to start learning from the first bell.

Schools participating in the program have more than double the national average of students walking and riding to school. Last year alone around 350,000 students rode to school.