An easy way to increase the amount you walk is to try walking into work – that way you increase the amount of exercise you’re getting while making your daily commute. A quarter of journeys in Greater Nottingham are less than two miles in length, which would take you 30 minutes or less if you walked at a brisk pace – that’s 1/5 of the total amount of exercise you need in a week!
You can always walk into work in the morning to give you the energy and endorphins you need to face the day, but catch the bus home in the evening when you feel more tired. And if you do live more than two miles away from the office -why not get the bus part way and walk the rest? It may sound like hard work but it’ll improve your health, in more ways than one.
Not only will walking to work give you all the benefits of general exercise, but also by leaving your car at home you’ll be reducing congestion and nasty emissions like carbon dioxide. That means less stress for you because you won’t have the frustration of being stuck in traffic – did you know the average person spends 14 days of their life waiting for traffic lights to change? And you’ll be breathing better quality air because you’ll be polluting less and because pedestrians actually breathe in less fumes than people in cars!
You’ll save yourself money by walking into work – see our cost comparison to see just how much – and you’ll also save time by getting to work and getting a workout all in one go. That also means you’ll save more money because you won’t need a gym subscription!
If you’re an employer reading this page and you like the thought of having a happier, healthier workplace you should think about joining the Big Wheel Business Club – this will give you access to free resources such as walking maps and will give you advice on how to put together a travel plan for your offices.
Whether you’re an employer or an employee, if you have concerns about pedestrian access to your offices it might be worth requesting a copy of Seeing Things Differently. This outlines the planned improvements to Nottingham’s walking routes, and will help you to see if anything is being done in the area around your office. Email bigwheel@gnpartnership.org.uk for a copy.
So, go on, get on your feet! Even if it’s just once a week, try walking to work and soon you’ll start to see the benefits.
