Boys from Pre-Primary to Year 12 came from all directions, some in groups with friends, others accompanied by mum or dad. One bunch of boys rode from the other side of East Fremantle and said it only took 15 more minutes than by car.

Christ Church Head of Health and Physical Education Darren McPartland said it was a great response, especially taking into account there were 100 Year 10s away on a geography excursion and 50 Prep School boys at Kooringal.

“We normally get around 400, so we’re pretty happy with the number,” he said. “There were more Prep School boys than normal, which was great to see and it was also wonderful to see about 20 parents ride in with their kids.

“The aim is to show the boys that it’s not that hard to ride to school and encourage them to do it on a regular basis. And the hope is that the boys who didn’t ride will see the mass of bikes at lunchtime and wish they had ridden and will take part next time.”

Mr McPartland said that on a normal fair-weather day, there might be about 50 or 60 boys riding to school, but he hoped this number would increase. He planned for the School to hold another Ride to School Day at the start of term four.