Over 420 parents and guardians have signed up for the Galway City Council ‘Park and Stride’ scheme

Over 420 parents and guardians have signed up for the Galway City Council ‘Park and Stride’ scheme, launched by His Worship, the Mayor of Galway City, Cllr. Mike Cubbard, as part of European Mobility Week 2020. ‘Park and Stride’ means leaving the car about 10 minutes’ walk from the school gate, and making the last leg of the journey to school on foot.

Free parking is available to Parents/ Guardians participating in ‘Park and Stride’ on the school run, in over 20 car parks in Galway City. Research shows that children who are active on the commute have higher levels of concentration in the classroom, with Park and Stride one of the measures recommended by the HSE for the return to school. Galway City Council is working in partnership with An Taisce Green-Schools, local businesses, organisations, and schools in the city, as part of this scheme. Full details of participating car parks and schools are available from www.galwaycity.ie/ParkandStride .

Speaking about the launch of Park and Stride, Mayor of Galway City, Cllr. Mike Cubbard, commented, “It’s fantastic to see over 420 children and parents in Galway fitting a walk into their journey to school, whether younger children doing Park and Stride, or older children doing ‘Drop and Hop’. Regular physical activity is important from an early age to promote good physical and mental health. Many thanks to the parents, schools, businesses and organisations supporting Park and Stride. Additional schools or car parks are very welcome to get involved”.

Parents and Guardians can check the list of participating car parks and schools, and register through their school, or online at www.galwaycity.ie/ParkandStride . Note that if your school is not listed, you are still welcome to participate. See the website for more details.

Park and Stride has great benefits for the wider school community - less traffic outside the school gate means less interaction with cars for young children trying to cross roads; less fumes and pollution from cars idling; and access for those who really need to park near the school gate for mobility or health reasons.

Park and Stride supports the Galway Transport Strategy. The Galway Transport Strategy (GTS) is a package of measures to manage car traffic, and to support those living, studying, working and visiting Galway to move around the city more easily on foot, by bike and on public transport. The Strategy, which spans a 20 year period, represents a partnership approach between Galway City Council, Galway County Council and the National Transport Authority.