Did You Know?
Walking... It's Good For You
- Walking 30 minutes a day can ward off chronic diseases such as diabetes, cancer and stroke.
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says: 10 minutes at a time is fine! Break up physical activity recommendations (150 minutes/week for adults, 60 minutes/day for kids) into smaller chunks of time to easily meet the guidelines!
- Walking is not only good for you; it's good for the community resulting in:
- Less traffic congestion. Reducing the number of private vehicles commuting to school can reduce morning traffic around the school. Less traffic congestion also improves conditions for pedestrians and bicyclists, creating a positive cycle - as the community sees more people walking and biking, more people feel comfortable walking and bicycling.
- Stronger sense of community. The common goal of improving conditions for pedestrians brings families, neighbors, school officials and community leaders together. The sense of community also builds as children and parents develop walking buddies and chat with neighbors as they walk.
- Safer streets. Communities with higher rates of walking and bicycling tend to have lower crash rates for all travel modes. One reason may be that motorists drive more cautiously when they expect to encounter walkers and bicyclists. More walkers and bicyclists can also improve personal security by providing more “eyes on the street.”
- Lower costs. Encouraging and enabling pedestrian trips reduces costs for the family, community and school district. Families save on gas, communities spend less on building and maintaining roads.
- Improved accessibility. Enabling citizens of all abilities to walk around town makes it easier for everyone in the community to get around, including parents with strollers, senior citizens, residents without cars and residents with temporary or permanent mobility impairments.
- Economic gains. Sidewalks, paths and other investments in walkablity can increase home values and direct additional traffic to local businesses.