Walking zones

Walking zones

About this activity

Suitable for nursery, primary and secondary school pupils and families. Supports the Geography National Curriculum

Create a walking zone map of your school's local area to help pupils and their families to plan safer, active travel routes to school.

With your school at the centre, your map should include an area marked out showing everywhere that can be reached within a 5 or 10 minute ‘walking zone’.

Pupils can then use the map to show their parents/carers how they can get to and from school on foot, bicycle or scooter. Share your walking zone map (see Resources for an example) with the school community to support Park and stride. Or, be more creative in capturing your pupils' parents'/carers' attention, like Crowland's Primary School who made a rap video about their 5-minute walk zone to help spread the word!

What you'll need

  • A map of the school's local area (scale 1:5000 recommended)
  • Information from your borough council about parking control zones in local area
  • Compass and pens

Thanks to St Michael's Church of England Primary School and Rokesly School, Haringey, for contributing their walking zone maps for this activity card. Thanks also to Crowland Primary School, Haringey for letting us share their rap video.

Activity steps

1
Liaise with your borough council
Ask for information regarding restricted parking and any planned road works you may have to consider
2
Get mapping
With the help of the walking zone guide (see Resources), create a walking zone map with your pupils
3
Involve the wider community
Share the walking zone map with your pupils, their parents/carers and the wider school community, promoting it in newsletters, assemblies and on notice boards
4
Check for success
Are pupils and their parents/carers using the map? Has it changed the way they travel to school or the amount of congestion outside the school gates?
5
Tell your story
Sign in to TfL Travel for Life to add your story and include pupils’ feedback. Explain the activity and add photos and any posters or promotional materials. Feedback to your borough officer

Tags

  • Walking

This activity counts towards:

  • Travel activity

How it helps

  • Supports Geography and Maths Curriculum
  • Eases congestion at schools gates
  • Encourages daily active travel
  • Improves air quality around schools