Just 20 per cent of school-aged children get the 60 minutes of exercise they need each day.
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But Wangaratta is planning to change that by encouraging people to “be well on wheels” as part of the Y Not Cycle program, launched on Tuesday.
The Wangaratta YMCA project, supported by the council and RoadSafe North East, involved a six-minute DVD promoting the city’s bike paths, which would be sent to schools.
Y Not Cycle project officer Jackie Hobbs said the program was about getting children active in the community.
“Riding at a young age will kick-start healthy habits, setting kids up for a lifetime of good health, and reinforce that riding a bike is an easy and fun way to get around,” she said.
St Bernard’s Primary School physical education teacher Gerard Nolan said children who exercised were more alert and ready to learn.
“It’s not just about bike riding, it’s about being active to and from school,” Mr Nolan said.
“Exercise activates and stimulates the brain.”
By promoting cycling, the school has more children finishing grade six as able bike riders.
“We see it as a vital part of school life,” Mr Nolan said.
Gateway Health promotion officer Barbara Young said Wangaratta’s quality bike paths meant people could easily use cycling to improve their health.
“We’ve got safe modes of travel – we can kick goals here in Wangaratta,” she said.
“We can help our kids look forward to a healthier future.”
But the exercise needed to be combined with healthy eating.
“One of the most significant concerns we have here in the Rural City of Wangaratta is our vegetable consumption because only 8.4 per cent are meeting the required amounts,” Ms Young said.
RSNE member Robbie Allen said children who went through the bike ed program at schools would go on to be safer drivers because they understood road rules.
“Not only does it have a health benefit, it has a very important road safety benefit,” he said.
“Becoming good road users is important and we think that young people who ride bikes at a young age have very good road skills.”