Southwark Council has shared walking maps with 27 primary schools across the borough, as it looks to encourage students, parents, carers and school staff to travel actively.
The new maps place each school at the centre and highlight areas within five and ten-minutes’ walk.
This is designed to help people see that many of their journeys are a short walk away.
The maps are large, waterproof and can be displayed at a prominent place, inside or outdoors.
They also show cycle routes.
The maps are part of ongoing efforts to encourage safe and sustainable travel.
The council’s sustainable travel team helps more than 60 primary schools work toward gold accreditation in the TfL Sustainable Travel: Active, Responsible, Safe (STARS) programme.
Galleywall Primary School is currently celebrating its recent gold STARS accreditation. This puts it in the top 10% of London schools.
Sarah Parbhu, headteacher at Galleywall School, said: “It has been a pleasure to work with Southwark Council in improving the way our children move to and from school.
“Our Walk to School Month and the use of Southwark’s walking maps have supported children in walking to school, meaning less traffic on the roads and helping provide cleaner and safer streets for our families.”
The council supports all its STARS schools, offering walking, cycling and scootering training. It has also helped 25 of these schools with road closures at drop off and pick up times.
Galleywall is the 15th school to have the pavements around it widened by Southwark Council. This gives people walking to school more space, makes them feel safer and narrows the road, slowing traffic.
Cllr Catherine Rose, cabinet member for leisure, parks, streets and clean air, said: “It was a pleasure to meet the staff and students at Galleywall School and talk about the progress they’ve made in reducing traffic around the school, as well as their hopes to further this work in the future.
“The students proudly showed us the school’s packed scooter parking spot and explained how they all walk, cycle and scoot to school. We hope that our new walking maps encourage even more children and adults to make their journey sustainably and safely.”
25 October 2022