And more students are being encouraged to get on their bikes with an extra 24 bike parking rails installed at the school, thanks to funding from the state government and Bicycle Network Victoria.

Sport and Recreation Minister Hugh Delahunty and Member for Northern Victoria Damian Drum joined students at a school assembly last week to officially open the new bike rails.

Ride2School Program director Scott Whiffin said Big Hill Primary School had built an inspirational program that was encouraging more students to be physically active, particularly on the journey to and from school.

“Big Hill Primary is getting its students off on the right foot by excelling in the Ride2School Program,” he said.

Mr Whiffin said he hoped the new bike parking would add to the school’s already fantastic momentum.

“More than eighty per cent of Big Hill’s students ride or walk to school, four times the national average,” he said.

“The fantastic thing is that the students have taken much of the initiative themselves.”

“The school is also fortunate to have some truly inspirational parents who have injected mountains of energy and enthusiasm into a highly successful active travel committee that works with the school to encourage students to walk and ride to school.”

Research shows the number of children walking or riding to school has dropped sharply since the 1970s across Victoria, coinciding with childhood obesity rates rising.

Mr Delahunty congratulated Big Hill students for setting a great example by walking and riding to school.

“I am confident these new bike parking facilities will encourage even more students in the Big Hill area to use their bikes and pedal power, stay active, and hopefully continue bike riding as a life-long habit,” he said.