RideScore on top of the podium for national award

It’s official! Bike culture is a winning lifestyle choice on the Sunshine Coast.

Council’s TravelSmart team has received what could be considered the yellow jersey at the 2018 We Ride Australia Cycling Luminaries Awards in recognition of its Australian-first RideScore program that merges fitness with fun while giving peace of mind to families.

Underway with a trial at Caloundra State School, RideScore, which encourages students to cycle to school, was the recipient of the WRA’s Bike Culture Award.

RideScore uses Bluetooth technology to record student bicycle trips and notifies parents/carers when their child arrives at school and departs for home.

The Bluetooth reader is located at the school’s bicycle storage area and reads a beacon attached to each student’s bike. It then sends a message to the registered email each time they pass the reader with their bike.

Transport Portfolio Cr Rick Baberowski said RideScore was another innovative approach taken by council staff with a clear aim of promoting safe cycling for fun and fitness with an ultimate goal of easing congestion around our schools.

“I couldn’t be prouder of our TravelSmart team for their advocacy and dedication in this space,” Cr Baberowski said.

TravelSmart’s Acting Supervisor Colleen Penny was instrumental in the program’s humble beginnings.

Ms Penny said the program had been a labour love for the whole team and she was honoured to receive the industry recognition on behalf of council.

“The trial at Caloundra State School has been going really well and we’re looking forward to rolling it out to Baringa State Primary as their facility readies itself for the technology,” she said.

“Simply by providing the opportunity to register for RideScore, the school has seen around a 50% increase in the number of students cycling to school, as recorded on the beacon management platform.

“We’ve already seen four students reach the 60 days of cycle trips milestone with other students reaching between six and 52 days of cycle trips.

“We don’t expect miracles but every trip helps start a habit and I’m so proud to have been a part of it.”

The awards were hosted by We Ride Australia (WRA) as part of the Australian Bicycle Summit.

Stephen Hodge, Director National Advocacy WRA, said it was fantastic to see Sunshine Coast Council recognised for its simple, effective RideScore initiative.

“Led by Colleen Penny and the TravelSmart team, they have been able to make getting to school by bike fun for the children with a range of simple rewards to encourage cycling, while at the same time ensuring parents have greatly improved whereabouts information,” Mr Hodge said.

“The use of smart technology and support from Colleen's team to build a cycling to school culture is good for everyone, especially the students.

“Riding a bike is an amazing activity that is great for health, the environment, fitness, social connection, independence, transport and simply fun.

“Colleen and the team at Sunshine Coast Council are deserving winners of the Cycling Luminaries Award for Bike Culture."

Cr Baberowski said with initiatives like RideScore, supported by thoughtful development that includes easy access to active transport alternatives, we were well on our way to delivering on council’s vision to become Australia’s most sustainable region – healthy, smart, creative.

More information:

2018 We Ride Australia Cycling Luminaries Awards

The 14th Cycling Luminaries Awards were hosted by We Ride Australia as part of the 2018 Australian Bicycle Summit. We Ride Australia is a charitable national bicycle advocacy foundation. The foundation is committed to promoting and encouraging cycling and advocating for policies and investments to make cycling accessible, safe and convenient. For more information on the Awards go to We Ride’s website: https://www.weride.org.au/what-we-do/2018-cycling-luminaries-awards/categories/bike-culture/