Flourishing Things: Walking as Transportation

When was the last time you walked to your destination? As cities continue to sprawl outwards and urban designs tend to centre around cars, walking as a means of transportation can seem like a daunting task. However, walking is more efficient than you might think. Reassessing walking distances can result in the realization that walking to work, school, or commercial locations is, in fact, doable. Use the walking feature on google maps to determine how long your walk would take (while keeping in mind that google maps assumes a pace of 5 km/h!). Depending on your circumstances, walking can be a faster method of transportation than bussing or driving. For example, in cities like Venice, Italy, a ten-minute walk can translate to a twenty-minute car ride due to the pedestrian-friendly design. 

Walking is a great way to add some physical activity into your routine. Various studies have shown that physical activity contributes to the prevention of cardiovascular disease, some cancers and diabetes. Unsurprisingly, walking is one of the most common and preferred ways to increase one’s physical activity due to the fact that it is free and easy to do. Not only does walking increase human health, but it contributes to environmental health as well. The less carbon emissions you produce, the better!

Choosing to walk to your destination allows you the opportunity to enjoy and appreciate your surroundings. You might even discover some hidden gems like a local restaurant or secluded park that you would have otherwise overlooked! This time spent in transport can be used to interact with other pedestrians, catch up on your favourite podcast, or simply enjoy some fresh air.

America Walks