Four local schools joined the RideScore initiative to encourage more kids to ride or scoot to school during the 2024 school year.
Baringa State Primary School, Caloundra State School, Meridan State College, and Nirimba State Primary School recently concluded the year’s program – aimed at promoting healthier lifestyles and achieving a reduction of nearly 60 tonnes of CO2 emissions.
RideScore works by using Bluetooth sensors that send real-time notifications to parents and carers on the arrival and departure of students riding and scooting to and from school.
In 2022 Sunshine Coast Council partnered with the Australian and Queensland governments, We Ride Australia and Stockland Developments to encourage nine schools, stretching between Baringa and Peregian, to participate.
Fast forward to 2024 and more than 2,600 students across 11 primary schools enjoyed the benefits of RideScore.
This year the program recorded an incredible 203,102 trips to and from school, covering almost 350,000 kilometres – that’s equivalent to travelling the circumference of Australia nine times.
Sunshine Coast Council Our Strong Community Portfolio Councillor Taylor Bunnag congratulated the schools on their impressive achievements.
“We are incredibly proud of the RideScore Active Schools Program – the first year of this incredible program led to a remarkable 55 per cent increase in the number of children cycling and scooting to school,” Cr Bunnag said.
“By encouraging children to take two wheels, the program promotes physical activity and has led to increased confidence, independence and social interaction, contributing to their overall wellbeing.
“Parents have said one thing they like most is the peace of mind the App gives them with real-time notifications on when their child arrives and leaves school.
“The success of RideScore on the Sunshine Coast demonstrates the potential for this program to be scaled up nationally and this is reinforced by the Deakin University evaluation of the program which evaluated the program’s first year in 2022.”
In 2025, Sunshine Coast Council is committed to expanding RideScore to more schools, ensuring children can benefit from this transformative program.
