Schools on the move

Three Western Australian schools held their inaugural School Open Streets events, closing off local streets to traffic for a day of fun community activities.

Riverton Education Support Centre, Riverton Primary and Queens Park Primary held the events to encourage more students and families to walk, cycle, and use eco-friendly travel options.  

Schools Open Streets is part of the Department of Transport’s Your Move program and has been highly successful on the east coast of Australia and around the world. 

For three consecutive Wednesdays in November, the streets surrounding Riverton Primary Campus were temporarily closed to cars during drop-off and pick-up times for the Riverton Primary Campus School Open Street.  

The event provided a safe space for students, staff, parents, and the local community to come together and enjoy a range of fun activities. 

A bike repair station was set up to encourage cycling, and local parents enjoyed the chance to chat, grab a coffee, and engage with the school community in a relaxed and supportive environment.  

Riverton Primary School Deputy Principal Karen Rundle said the school was delighted to see the positive community response to the Open Streets events.  

“Every Wednesday, there was a fantastic buzz around the school, with students eagerly participating in activities and parents taking the opportunity to engage with each other,” she said. 

“We were thrilled to see an increase in active travel on the way to school and the many benefits that this event created for our school community.” 

At Queens Park Primary School, a local street also remained car-free during drop-off and pick-up times, so students and families could enjoy bike circuits, art activities, chalk drawing, giant games, bubbles, skipping ropes, and hula hoops. 

Your Move Schools is a free program that helps students get active by increasing walking, scooting and riding to school.  

More information about the initiative can be found on the Your Move website.