Walking ... It's The Way To Go
“Using public transport is brilliant,” wrote an astute Generous member recently. “But, better still, why not walk?”
Fair point. After all, not only does walking mean you get to know your community better – where you live or where you work – but research shows that people who walk regularly enjoy a whole host of health benefits.
Benefits such as those listed here on the Ramblers website. Not that this is about driving to the country to have a walk – pleasant though that can be, given decent weather and stout shoes. It’s about walking in our towns and cities. It’s about walking as a modest sign of resistance against the omnipresence of the car – cheaper, healthier, and, admittedly, usually slower.
So, how about swapping one or more of the shorter, regular journeys you now make by public transport or car to one you can make on foot? You’ll be reducing your emissions at the same time.
London dwellers have some great online resources to help them make this move and most Council websites carry information on local walk routes.
Walking – it’s the way to go!
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Leeds, GB , 30 Sep 2007
I need to get the train to work, but try to walk to the shops as much as possible. Have to admit the British weather does put me off though!
Haverfordwest, GB , 12 Oct 2007
Walk The Final Mile. On journeys where driving is the only practical option – park a mile short of every destination. If tens of thousands of drivers get into this habit the overall impact would be significant. Not just in pollution reduction, but by reducing the congestion in town centres etc. And it offers a very flexible way of getting into walking.. making it far likelier that drivers will try it; extending the distance walked whenever the weather is fine, but still being free to drive all the way when it’s foul or when carrying heavy stuff.
Godalming, GB , 12 Oct 2007
I’ve been trying to do this with limited success, but I shall try a bit harder. I’ve just changed my hours so that I start an hour earlier, but I’ll make an extra effort to get organised enough to walk. As I now need to leave before 9 am I don’t gain much time if I drive anyway owing to the state of the traffic at that time.
The other thing I try to do is combine journeys and cut back on special journeys to particular shops, within reason.
Kingston upon Thames, GB , 31 Oct 2007
I do this – only use the car for long journeys, we either walk or get the bus everywhere (including 2 year old sometimes in buggy but walking as much as possible)
22 Nov 2007
Not a walking comment as such – but its really hard to get some people to realise sometimes that you do just want to cycle or can get home under your own steam. Makes it harder to do the right thing.
Leicester, GB , 14 Feb 2008
I was getting the bus to work, and paying to use the gym. How did I get into this mindset? So I ditched the gym membership (probably reducing my CO2 footprint) and stopped buying weekly tickets for unlimited bus travel (also reducing my CO2) and now I’m walking everywhere and about as fit as I was when using the gym.
Pierrefonds, CA , 05 May 2008
Someone once said: “Everywhere is walking distance if you have enough time.” I wholeheartedly agree. Aside from the health benefits, there’s no better way to really get to know your neighbourhood than to walk through it, as opposed to driving past it.
Walking also has the psychological benefit of providing a calm, quiet space in what’s often an otherwise hectic life. Make a habit of taking a walk with friends or family after meals and you’ll see what I mean.
Pierrefonds, CA , 05 May 2008
Someone once said: “Everywhere is walking distance if you have enough time.” I wholeheartedly agree. Aside from the health benefits, there’s no better way to really get to know your neighbourhood than to walk through it, as opposed to driving past it.
Walking also has the psychological benefit of providing a calm, quiet space in what’s often an otherwise hectic life. Make a habit of taking a walk with friends or family after meals and you’ll see what I mean.
london, GB , 06 May 2008
added advantage of walking: if it’s a journey you’ve done before you know exactly how long it will take you, unlike waiting for a bus. that’s what i like most about my walk to work. wear trainers and change when you arrive. if you’ve a decent umbrella and hat the weather shouldn’t make any difference. plus it’s a brilliant way to learn your town
london, GB , 06 May 2008
added advantage of walking: if it’s a journey you’ve done before you know exactly how long it will take you, unlike waiting for a bus. that’s what i like most about my walk to work. wear trainers and change when you arrive. if you’ve a decent umbrella and hat the weather shouldn’t make any difference. plus it’s a brilliant way to learn your town
Preston, GB , 06 May 2008
I have recently got a pet dog and am now committed to walking for up to a couple of hours a day. (This has meant getting up an hour earlier, but on days like today that it is OK). People treat you differently if you have a dog, they stop and talk to you. Also being out on the streets mean you meet a lot more people on the town high street which is great for me a sa Minister