Pedal Pods power Surf Coast students to school
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Do you live in the Surf Coast Shire and want your child to cycle to school but don't always have the time or ability to supervise their journey?
Well your child may soon have the opportunity to join a Pedal Pod and ride to school in a supervised group that delivers youngsters to the school gate refreshed and ready for the day ahead.
And at the end of the day, children can ride home as a group in a social, safe, energetic environment, led by a trained adult supervisor.
Along the way, children will also discover more about the road rules and their neighbourhood; they will strengthen friendships, gain self-esteem and create stronger links with other local families.
And the Pedal Pod delivers environmental benefits because more children and parents cycling to and from school means less pollution and traffic congestion, particularly around the school grounds, and less money spent on petrol.
Surf Coast Shire mayor, Cr Rose Hodge, hopes that Pedal Pods will eventually operate in all primary schools across the Shire. However, to achieve this goal, the Shire requires the help and support of local communities and volunteers to co-ordinate each school’s Pedal Pod and supervise each cycling group, made up of children in year three to six.
If you are interested in becoming a volunteer Pedal Pod supervisor or want to know more about this project, come along to an information session at the Torquay children’s services hub in Grossmans Road, on Wednesday 14 February at 3.30pm (Please RSVP by Monday 12 February for catering purposes).
Alternatively, please contact Shire project officer, Margaret Foulkes, on 5261 0501 or 0438 366 962.
Mrs Foulkes, says pod supervisors do need to be competent cyclists, responsible, reliable and above all, be good with children.
All Pedal Pod supervisors will be provided with free accredited training and undergo a Working with Children Check. A safety audit of all cycling routes and designated stops will also be carried out.
The Pedal Pod program is endorsed by the Surf Coast Shire and designed in collaboration with Bicycle Victoria, VicHealth, Victoria Police and VicRoads.
