Park and Ride may be going nowhere in the city but it has provided the inspiration for an initiative at one Galway school.

Gaelscoil Mhic Amhlaigh in Knocknacarra last week launched their very own 'Park and Stride' scheme.

The scheme encourages drivers to park their cars at Cappagh Road Park, about 200 yards from the school, and complete their journey to the school on foot. It is part of an ongoing campaign by the parents' committee to curb the danger posed by increasing traffic outside the school.

A spokesperson for the parents' committee said the scheme had a knock-on affect for residents in nearby estates who enjoyed freer access to the main road, while those walking really enjoyed the challenge.

The Gaelscoil has recently requested that Galway City Council provide a traffic warden to assist with crossing the busy Cappagh Road. During the Park and Stride week, individual parents and members of an Garda Siochana assisted with crossing, but there is a fear that it may not be practical to rely on this in the future.

"This is a wonderful initiative to encourage people to get out of their cars and walk. But it can be very dangerous without an official traffic warden or pedestrian crossing point," said parent Hilary Clarke who has four children in the Gaelscoil.

"Should we be successful in our request to install a traffic warden or traffic lights on the Cappagh Road in the future, it would then be possible to introduce a parental rota or 'human bus' system to escort children on a permanent basis," said parents' committee chairperson, Sinead Nic Guidhir.

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