New street signs, maps and an online guide for schools will make it easier and safer for children to walk or ride to school, the ACT government says.
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At Latham Primary School on Wednesday, Assistant Minister for Transport Meegan Fitzharris launched the government's Active Streets program.
Colourful maps and signs mark drop-off points, from where kids can walk at least part of the way to school, together, alone or in groups.
"[It's] going to be a lot more fun, it's going to be a lot safer and it's going to mean that more and more of you can walk or ride to school," she said.
"Active streets is all about starting starting small. You don't have to do it every day, or ride and walk the whole way."
Macquarie, Macgregor and Mount Rogers Primary Schools are also part of the program, and there are hopes it will expand to other parts of Canberra.
Minister for Education Shane Rattenbury helped launch the program, telling students he cycled to work on a "comfy" bike most days, wearing his suit.
He said he knew parents worried about students who walked or rode to school, and the government had improved road safety around their schools.
Changes include dragon's teeth at Macgregor, footpath improvements at Macquarie, a crossing at Mount Rogers and a 30 km/h speed limit at Latham.
"What I want you to take home today is to go home and tell your parents about this, and let them know that the government's working very hard to make it easier for you," Minister Rattenbury told the students.
"I want you to pester your parents and tell them it's a great thing to do."
Chief health officer Paul Kelly said it was important to incorporate activity in daily life, and one of the best ways was walking or cycling to work or school.
"Although Canberra is a very healthy place, almost two-thirds of adults are overweight, or very overweight – what we call obese," he said.
"Those things can actually lead to bad diseases when you get older."
