Pedal Power: Riding to School for Health, Happiness, and Safety

Riding a bike to school is a fantastic way for children to start their day. Cycling not only promotes physical health by improving cardiovascular fitness, strength, and coordination, but fosters a sense of independence and community whilst supporting emotional and social wellbeing. Riding a bike to school truly is the perfect combination ensuring students arrive alert, confident, and ready to learn. While the benefits are clear, riding to school on a bike also has a significant number of safety factors to be considered - safety always comes first!

Under Queensland law, children under 12 years of age are permitted to ride on footpaths, and those aged 12 to 16 may also do so unless signage indicates otherwise. Helmets are mandatory, and riders must follow standard road rules - this includes using hand signals, keeping at least one hand on the handlebars, and riding with care and attention (please see Queensland Law ‘Bicycle Road Rules and Safety’ for more information.)

Additional key points under Queensland Law to consider include:

• Helmets: Cyclists must wear an approved helmet that meets safety standards. 
• Staying to the left: Cyclists must ride as close to the left side of the road as possible. 
• Traffic signals: Cyclists must obey traffic lights and other signals. 
• Safe passing distances: Motorists must leave a minimum of 1 meter of space when passing a bicycle rider in a 60km/h or less speed zone, and 1.5 meters when the speed limit is over 60km/h. 
• Bicycle lanes: Cyclists should ride in designated bicycle lanes if available. 
• Visibility: Cyclists should use lights and reflectors to increase their visibility, especially at night. 
• Sharing paths: Cyclists must give way to pedestrians on shared paths and keep left. 
• No towing/being towed: Cyclists are prohibited from towing or being towed by other vehicles. 
• Hand signals: Cyclists should use hand signals when turning. 
• Keeping left and overtaking: Cyclists should not overtake vehicles on the left if it's not safe. 
• Riding alongside others: Cyclists can ride alongside each other but should not ride more than 2 riders side-by-side unless they are overtaking. 

In addition to the law, to help keep our young riders safe, we recommend:

• Wearing a properly fitted helmet every time you ride.
• Using bike lights and reflectors in low light conditions.
• Practicing road safety skills at home.
• Sticking to footpaths or designated bike lanes.
• Using a strong, high-quality bike lock.

Holy Cross School provides bike racks located off Reed Road, however, please note this area is not actively supervised, except between 2:50pm and 3:10pm, when students are leaving the school grounds. Unfortunately, two bikes have recently been stolen from our bike racks after their locks were severed with bolt cutters. This was extremely upsetting for the students and families involved. As a school we have been actively investigating the installation of a gate to secure the area. however, the cost is significant, so we are still exploring feasible options.

In the meantime, to avoid potential theft, we strongly encourage families to:

• Use high-quality locks that secure both the frame and wheels.
• Avoid leaving bikes overnight.
• Consider engraving bikes with identification details and / or popping a tracking device inside the frame for ease of location and retrieval.

As a school community, we are incredibly grateful to our families for their continued support in keeping our students safe. Your proactive involvement helps us address challenges and work toward meaningful solutions. Let’s keep the conversation going, your feedback and ideas are always welcome.

Together, let’s ensure that riding to school remains a safe, healthy, and joyful experience for all our students.

Sharing the Road Safely

Be on the lookout

• Bicycle and personal mobility device riders are more difficult to see than cars or trucks, especially at night, dawn or dusk.
• Take care to check for riders in blind spots before changing lanes or turning, especially when turning at intersections and at roundabouts.
• Check in your rear-view and side mirrors to avoid opening your car door into the path of a bicycle or personal mobility device rider.

Expect riders to be fast moving sometimes

• Sometimes a bicycle or personal mobility device rider can travel faster than a car, particularly in slow-moving traffic. Never under-estimate their speed and do not to cut them off by moving in front of them.

Take extra care at night and in wet weather

• Wet weather can cause the road to become oily or slippery and reduce visibility, so be extra careful around bicycle or personal mobility device riders at these times.
• Be considerate and dip your headlights when approaching a bicycle or personal mobility device rider at night.

Be patient and prepare to slow down

• If it isn't safe to pass a bicycle or personal mobility device rider, wait until it is safe. This should not hold you up for long and it could save the bicycle or personal mobility device rider's life.
• Sometimes, bicycle riders may need the full width of a lane to ride safely because of rough road edges and gravel. Be prepared to slow down and allow the rider to travel away from the kerb. You must comply with the minimum passing rules.
• All riders can be unpredictable, especially children. Prepare to slow down and stop if necessary.