What is Park and Stride?
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. For parents or grandparents doing the walk to and from the car, that’s 15–20 minutes towards the recommended 30 minutes of physical exercise we should all be doing every day. Galway City Council is working in partnership with An Taisce Green-Schools, schools in the city and local businesses to seek your support for this scheme.
Why Park and Stride?
Regular physical activity is important from an early age to promote good physical and mental health — the school journey is a great time to start the habit, even if your family needs to travel to school by car. It’s not just the kids who’ll be getting fresh air, a stretch of their legs and some time to chat with their favourite people, you’ll be getting some exercise too!
Children who are active on the commute have higher levels of concentration in the classroom.
Traffic danger is the most common reason cited by parents for not allowing their children to walk or cycle to school but, ironically, by driving our children to school we contribute to traffic, thus reducing our children’s safety*.
Park and Stride is good for the wider school community too — 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.
Where Can I Park?
In Galway, a number of local businesses are supporting Park and Stride by allowing Parents/Guardians to use their car park free of charge (where charges normally apply) for a short period of time while they walk their child to school (please see below) Map of Park & Stride Car Parks 2024
All participating carparks can be used as Drop ‘n’ Hop locations for older children to make their way to school independently e.g. Guardians can drop off/pick up their children at participating car park.
Additional car parks are welcome to participate, by contacting the Transport section of Galway City Council at roads@galwaycity.ie or on 091 546 400
Participating Car Parks include:
- A Aldi Knocknacarra
- B Ballinfoile/Castlegar Neighbourhood Centre
- C Cathedral Car Park
- D Claddagh Hall Car Park
- E Claude Toft Park
- F Coolagh Church
- G Crescent Court (Tesco)
- H Dyke Road Car Park
- I Galway Shopping Centre
- J Gateway Retail Park (Dunnes/B&Q)
- K Tesco Knocknacarra
- L Knocknacarra Community Centre
- M Lidl Knocknacarra
- N Maldron Hotel
- O Mervue United
- P Mill Street Car Park
- Q Monkey Business (morning only)
- R Newtownsmith/ Bowling Green
- S Port of Galway - Breathnach Quay
- T Renmore Community Centre
- U The Promenade
- V Westside Library/ Community Centre
- W Westside Playing Fields
- X Westside Shopping Centre (Dunnes)
- Y Woodquay Car Park
What does the Park and Stride Sign Look like?
Look out for this sign!
What schools are participating?
Additional schools are welcome to participate, by contacting the Transport section of Galway City Council at roads@galwaycity.ie or on 091 546 400
Participating Schools include:
- 1 Bushy Park National School, Circular Road
- 2 Coláiste Iognáid S.J., Br. Na Mara
- 3 Cuan na Gaillimhe CNS, An Cimín Mór, Cappagh Road
- 4 Dominican College, Taylors Hill
- 5 Galway Educate Together NS, Thomas Hynes Road
- 6 Gaelscoil Dara, Bóthar Bhaile an Locháin
- 7 Gaelscoil Mhic Amhlaigh, Lána an Mhuillearoa
- 8 Jesus & Mary Secondary School, Threadneedle Road
- 9 Knocknacarra Educate Together N.S., An Coimín Mór
- 10 Nicholas National School/Claddagh National School, Saint Dominick’s Road
- 11 Parochial National School, Waterside
- 12 Scoil An Linbh Íosa, St. Francis Street
- 13 Scoil Íde, Ardnamara
- 14 Scoil Bhríde, Shantalla Road
- 15 Scoil Iognáid, Bóithrín na Sliogán
- 16 St. Patricks N.S., Lombard Street
- 17 Scoil Naomh Iosef, Ráthún
- 18 St. John the Apostle, Knocknacarra National School
- 19 St. Joseph’s College, Nun’s Island
- 20 St. Mary’s College, St. Mary’s Road
If your school is not listed as participating, you can still Park and Stride.
My Child’s School isn’t participating, can I still Park and Stride?
Yes – return the Park & Stride Leaflet and Registration Form 2024 with a letter saying what school your child is in, with the official stamp of the school. Galway City Council will send your permit directly to you. Please include your postal address on correspondence.
How do I take part?
All schools in Galway City are welcome to participate in Park and Stride. Parents/Guardians should complete this Park & Stride Leaflet and Registration Form 2024, and return it to their school, or to Galway City Council:
By post to: Park and Stride, Transport Department, Galway City Council, College Road, Galway City.
Online: Register by filling in the form online
Email: Scan the form and email it to activetravel@galwaycity.ie
Parents/Guardian will be issued with an annual Park and Stride Permit Sticker through their child’s school. The Permit Sticker should be displayed in the front windshield of your car when using participating car parks. Permit Stickers are not transferrable to other drivers. Please apply for more than one permit if more than one Guardian is participating in Park and Stride.
What are the Park and Stride Terms & Conditions?
Designated Parking Times at Participating Car Parks:
Morning: 8.00am to 9.30am (1 hour max)
Afternoon: 1.00pm to 4.30pm (1 hour max)
- The Park and Stride sticker must be displayed clearly, inside the front windshield of your car.
- Permit Stickers are not transferrable to another car. You must apply for an additional Permit Sticker if an additional Guardian is participating in Park and Stride.
- Parking spaces are available on a ‘first come, first served’ basis.
- Parking before or after the designated times must be paid for where charges normally apply.
- Cars parked before and after the designated Park and Stride times, which do not display a paid ticket (where charges normally apply) will be subject to charges, or a fine by Wardens in City Council car parks.
- Please park in a safe manner, allowing sufficient space for children to enter and leave vehicles safely.
- Permit Stickers are for the use of Parents/Guardians participating in the Park and Stride scheme only, and are not transferrable for any other use.
- New Permit Stickers will be issued at the start of every school year — the current year must be displayed on the Permit Sticker in use.
- Park and Stride only applies Monday to Friday, during term time.
Is Park and Stride part of any 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.
Who can I Contact for Further Information?
For further information, please contact
Park and Stride, Transport Department, Galway City Council, College Road, Galway
Tel. 091 536 400