About this activity

Suitable for pupils at all schools and nurseries, and their parents/carers. Supports the Geography, PE and PSHE and Citizenship National Curriculum.

NB: We’re bringing together all the TfL education programmes, including STARS, under one exciting new umbrella programme called TfL Travel for Life. They will be the same great programmes, but with a new name and a new look, easier online process and dedicated support team. STARS for primary schools will be renamed TfL Explorers. STARS for secondary schools will be renamed TfL Pioneers.

Park and Stride encourages families to park their car a distance from school and walk the rest of the way. It allows those who live further from the school to introduce an element of active travel into their journey. As well as promoting physical activity, Park and Stride can reduce congestion and improve Air Quality around your school.

Park and Stride works well in conjunction with the walking zone activity.

Park and Stride is a simple idea for families who live far away from school and currently drive, but want to enjoy the benefits of walking to school.

Ask families to park or drop-off a ten-minute walk from school and complete their journey on foot. If using public transport, suggest they Drop-a-Stop (get off a couple of stops earlier) and walk the rest of the way to school.

Studies show that students who have walked for 10 minutes or more of their journey to school arrive more alert and ready to start the day! Park & Stride also helps reduce congestion around the school and improve air quality.

This Activity Card is designed to help successfully implement a formal Park and Stride scheme, including resources to help you:

• Consult with students, parents, businesses and your local authority to identify the appropriate locations for parking and dropping-off, and the best walking routes to your school.
• Working with students to design a Walking or Active Travel Zone Map
• Gain support from parents and the wider community by writing to them; use the template letters to community/business and parents/cares

REMEMBER: children who are recorded as travelling to school using “Park & Stride” in your Whole School Travel Survey do NOT contribute to your schools “Car/Motorcycle” journey numbers – and so are a brilliant way of achieving real mode shift!