Bikes in Schools has reached a milestone, with Ranui School becoming the 25th Auckland school to take part in the project.
The milestone is the culmination of five years of the project in Auckland, which is run by The Bike On NZ Charitable Trust. The Trust’s main objective is to enable as many New Zealand children as possible to ride a bike on a regular and basis within school, through its national ‘Bikes in Schools’ project.
“Bikes in Schools is a wonderful project, not only for the kids who will now get to ride every day, but for our whole city,” says Mayor Phil Goff.
“By making cycling safer and more accessible, we’re encouraging more people to get about on bikes rather than in cars. It has obvious health benefits and will overtime help decongest our roads and lower our carbon emissions.”
Fitness, fun and new skills
At Ranui School, there is now a new bike track as well as 40 bikes for children to use.
The track provides a safe place for the kids to improve their cycling skills, get fit and have fun.
When weather improves the school will finish off their mini BMX/pump track and bike skills obstacle course. The school also has a full storage facility which will soon be painted with a mural.
About Bikes in Schools
The Bikes in Schools Auckland project kicked off in Auckland in 2012 at Nga Iwi School in Mangere, and five years later continues to be a loved part of the community.
Bikes in Schools Trustee Paul McArdle says the project is going from strength to strength, both nationally and in Auckland.
“What makes this project great is that any school can take part.
“We provide the framework and advice which gets them started, the school still needs to fundraise for their project but usually find that the community and many different funders get behind them, and the track and other facilities happen quicker than they thought possible.
“We are very grateful for the excellent support of Auckland Transport from the start in 2012 which has been a major factor to the success of the project in Auckland.”
