Schoolkids take to their feet in new ‘Park and Stride’ scheme
Parents on the school run will be able to avail of free parking in more than two dozen car parks across the Galway City in the mornings and afternoons – to encourage them to walk the last ten minutes of their journey and keep away from school gates.
A total of 22 private and Council car parks are participating in the scheme, with 17 national and secondary schools so far signed up.
It has been set up following HSE guidelines to encourage cycling and walking to and from school as much as possible in a bid to curb the congregation of people outside school gates.
Designated parking times at participating car parks are a maximum of one hour between 8am and 9.30am and between 1pm and 4.30pm.
A spokesman for the Council said there would be “some leeway” within these hours for parents who were doing multiple pickups of children finishing school at different times.
Eligible motorists must apply and display a sticker to take part in the so-called ‘Park and Stride’ scheme.
Arlene Finn of the Transport Section of Galway City Council said the unit was delighted with the support it received from local businesses and organisations for the initiative, which is being carried out in partnership with An Taisce Green Schools as well as city schools. Private car parks will not be compensated for providing the car spaces.
The scheme was introduced some years ago but fell away. The Covid-19 crisis has prompted a renewed attempt to get parents and school kids to walk even a short distance before and after school while diverting traffic snarl-ups outside.
For more, read this week’s Galway City Tribune.
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