Wheels rule at school bike day

Students get ready for the Wheels Day parade outside their school’s shed that holds 100 bikes. From left, Lucas Maurice, Tayla Fox, Charlie Kember and Brooke Dickie show off their cool wheels. From left, Teacher and event organiser Debbie Thompson with deputy principal Gordie Palmer, who wore her special skirt for wheels day.

Whangaparaoa School celebrated bike month with a school-wide Wheels Day on Wednesday February 20.

Students were encouraged to bring their bikes, scooters or skateboards to school for a morning filled with activities, beginning with a wheels parade and polished off with a lunchtime sausage sizzle.

The day was part of Auckland Transport’s Travel Wise initiative that encourages parents and students to get out of their cars and use alternative means of transport.

“Encouraging families to get to school another way is much safer and healthier for the kids,” teacher and Wheels Day organiser, Debbie Thompson, says.

She says other Travel Wise initiatives in the school such as walking buses and park-and-walks have contributed to reducing chaos at the school gate and car park.

Whangaparaoa School has been recognised by Travel Wise as one of the top performing schools for encouraging road safety and sustainable transport.