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Walking

Benefits of walking

Save money

Walking is free. If you walk instead of using your car for short journeys you may save up to £100 in fuel costs over a year. Your bus fares may also be cheaper if you get off the bus a little further from your destination. It’s also a lot cheaper than paying for gym membership!

It’s good for your health

Just 30 minutes a day of moderate activity, such as brisk walking, can benefit your health. And remember - it can be broken down into bouts of 10 or 15 minutes. Regular walking can help reduce or control your weight and blood pressure, reduce the risk of heart disease and certain cancers, tone your muscles and reduce risk of brittle bones -‘osteoporosis’. It can also make you feel good and give you more energy. It may help reduce stress by not being stuck in traffic and helping you to unwind at the end of the day.

Did you know? Regular walking reduces the risk of coronary heart disease by up to 50%.

It’s quicker

Usually, for short journeys, by the time you’ve parked your car and then walked to your destination, you could have walked the same journey in less time. Did you know that for a short trip of less than a quarter of a mile (400m), it is quicker to walk than ride, and for trips up to half a mile (800m), you will only save 2 or 3 minutes by riding in a car? (Figures based on an averagely fit individual walking at 3 miles per hour)

It’s sociable and supports local shops

Walking is a great way to meet and bump in to people. Having more people walking around can also help to make our streets feel safer. You are also more likely to use your smaller local shops along the way.

It’s environmentally friendly

It helps keep air cleaner. Walking 1 1/2 miles per day instead of going by car can reduce carbon dioxide emissions by around 130kg a year.

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