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Walking Can Help the Environment

Did you know that walking is good for both your health and the environment’s?  If we choose to walk instead of drive, we can help reduce automobile exhaust emissions.  This is a great idea, especially if you have errands that are less than a mile away.  For these short trips it is best to leave the car at home and walk instead.  It is critical to have a great pair of walking shoes.  If we walk more and drive less, we can all work together to reduce the impact of greenhouse emissions on global warming.

Did you know that cars emit the most toxic exhaust when  the engine is cold?  This occurs because the car’s emissions control equipment has not reached its optimal temperature.  Especially on a brisk winter day, it can take up to 10 miles or so for the car to warm up to maximum efficiency. 

Driving results in traffic which contributes to noise pollution.  What is noise? It is any type of sound that is disturbing or undesirable.  You may not realize how much traffic impacts noise.  Noise pollution can cause a plethora of problems, including stress, discomfort, pain, difficulty concentrating, and problems hearing other people.  This is especially true with motorcycles or older automobiles.  By choosing to walk instead of drive, you can help eliminate traffic noise in your community.

By walking, we can help reduce traffic congestion and accidents.  Traffic increases greatly around schools and work, at starting and quitting times.  If you are able to walk, bike, or take public transportation, you should.  If your kids go to school close to home, you could walk them to and from school.  

Walkers can also help the environment in other ways.  As we drive to and from work, school, the stores, etc., we are not always focused on our community since we must pay attention to traffic and driving safely. By walking, we tend to pay attention to things as litter or other degrading factors in our area.  Walkers can pay more attention to the landscape, such as vacant lots, abandoned buildings, and the like.  Through doing this, we can either make voluntary efforts or take part in community groups to clean up these problems.

As well, walking keeps us healthier!  Regular exercise, such as walking, can help prevent heart attacks and strokes.  It helps relieve stress—which is a major cause of multiple health problems.  We can get stronger and healthier – and have more energy – with regular walking.  Who knows, if a significant number of people who commute short distances walked instead, there may be fewer trips to the local hospital emergency room.

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