Pilot program finds simple ‘nudges’ increase active transport

Victorian schools have used a series of cheap “nudges” to get more kids walking to school, and they’re reaping dividends for parents, teachers and peak-hour congestion. Here’s how they’re doing it.

Stickers, a colourful route marked out on the footpath and a healthy dose of competition are the simple and cheap “nudges” that can significantly increase the number of kids who walk to school, a new study has found.

A new VicHealth funded program trialled in two Victorian primary schools saw an increase of 34 per cent of children — or 187 kids — walk, ride or scoot to and from class.

Change to Walk, delivered by Victoria Walks, also took 134 cars off the road during school peak times, over the six weeks during winter.

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Epping Views primary students Bonnie, 8, Amber, 8, and Lucy 6. The school has seen the positive impact of active transport. Picture: Alex Coppel.

The program encouraged families to engage in active transport at least one more day a week.

A report released today by Victoria Walks showed that small prompts and incentives were enough to both keep kids active, but also change parental mindsets about the barriers to active transport.

“The number of parents who thought it was quicker to drive their kids to school halved over the program, as they found walking was quicker than getting through traffic and trying to find a park,” said Victoria Walks executive director Dr Ben Rossiter.

“We know that three quarters of kids want to walk to school.

“We’ll be taking these results to the new government, because kids who are more active are more likely to be active as adults.”

The youngest students were the most likely to get involved, with stickers, competitions and wall charts tallying their trips working best to keep them engaged in active transport.

Older-aged primary students were more inspired by the stencilled route marked out on the footpath, as well as wearing badges that showed they were part of the program.

Epping Views Primary principal Pauline Kubat said students who walked or rode to school were more settled in class, and there had been a noticeable reduction in traffic congestion.

“There’s also been a big change in parent attitudes,” Ms Kubat said.

“A lot thought their kids were too young, it was to far to walk, or it was too inconvenient. “But even parents who work at the school, their kids are asking to be dropped off so they can walk — and they’re still doing it.”

Given that just one in five children and teenagers got the recommended hour of physical activity each day, VicHealth chief Jerril Rechter said walking to school was an important way of sneaking in more exercise.