7 Reasons Why Walking Will Save the World
I have a confession to make. I used to love driving, it felt like freedom. When I was a kid in the 80’s and 90’s, we used to drive everywhere. Going for a walk or hanging out in the park, wasn’t culturally something we’d do together as a family. As I’ve gotten older and had my own little family; I wanted my son to have a different experience but found it difficult. Go Jauntly was born out of a frustration of not being able to find nice walks despite living in a city that is actually 47% greenspace.
Now let's fast forward a bit… It’s 2023 and we find ourselves living in an age of crises. It’s gotten so bad, it’s got its own name, the polycrisis.
Physical inactivity, stress and depression costs global economies billions.
Air pollution, climate breakdown & biodiversity loss is costing us the Earth.
More time is spent indoors compared to outdoors & we’re losing touch with the natural world.
Our local high streets and town centres are in steep decline.
Our research shows that walking, active travel and promoting nature connectedness is one of the easiest ways to combat these crises and provides a variety of benefits. It’s widely reported that walking is a ‘wonder drug’ with a myriad of beneficial health and wellbeing effects. Yet it suffers from under-investment and pedestrians are deprioritised.
Let’s unpack the evidence.
According to the Natural Capital Account for London, residents avoid £950 million per year in health costs due to public parks. Science shows that taking note of the everyday natural world helps connect you with the rest of nature. We are nature too.
Access to green space is not equitable. Many people who live in cities are deprived of lack of direct access. People from low socio-economic backgrounds, those with health conditions, women and people of colour are the least likely to benefit from access to nature. A study showed that three-quarters of UK children spend less time outdoors than prison inmates. UN guidelines for prisoners require “at least one hour of suitable exercise in the open air daily”.
Transport is the largest emitting sector of greenhouse gases in the UK. In 2020, road transport accounted for 31% of the UK’s CO2 emissions. which directly contributes to the climate emergency and air quality crisis. Meanwhile fossil fuels lobbies are making billions of dollars by extracting a finite earth resource but at what cost to us and our future?
Research shows that 80% of car journeys are under 2km, these could be easily walked in less than 30 mins. Added bonus is that it’s good for you and good for the environment
If that doesn’t do it for you there’s even more shocking research uncovered by UK Health Alliance on Climate Change revealed that it’s 9-12x polluted inside a car compared to outside a car. We’re literally choking ourselves to death whilst queuing in grid-lock traffic. It doesn’t finish there, on top of this. there's now a proven link between cancer, dementia and toxic air. This is shocking and we should be outraged.
7 reasons why walking will save the world
The benefits of walking are myriad. It's good for you and good for the planet. Read on to learn more on why walking will save the world…
1. Walking is fun, free and easy. Can you think of a better way to stick it to the car and fossil fuel lobbies than by walking more?
2. A happier and healthier you. The NHS says walking briskly can help you build stamina, burn excess calories and make your heart healthier. Whilst often overlooked, walking is one of the easiest ways to be more active and can protect you from a variety of diseases..
3. Increased nature connectedness. It’s not only a ‘wonder drug’ for your health but one of the easiest ways to protect the natural world. The science shows that nature connectedness leads to pro-nature conservation behaviours. Studies suggest nature can make people kinder and more generous.
4. Give back to society and be an exemplary citizen of the world. The Wildlife Trust and Leeds Beckett university found that for every £1 invested in health or social needs projects that connect people to nature, there is a £6.88 social return. By walking more, you have a chance to connect with everyday nature which can bring about clinically significant improvements to your mental wellbeing.
5. Reduces vehicles on the road. This means cleaner air for all and reduction in harmful toxic particulates. Kids playing in the streets again, less traffic accidents and for those that really need to drive, less stressful journeys.
6. Supports local economies. People who walk to the high street spend 40% more than those who drive. Thriving high streets means income from business rates, utility expenditure and an increase in jobs.
7. Build communities. By walking more, connecting with your local community and the public realm it can help reduce feelings of isolation and loneliness.
It’s a no-brainer that walking can help save the world, right? Thousands of years ago, Hippocrates stated, “walking is man's best medicine” and he is right to this day.
Walking needs to be formally recognised as a mode of transport with adequate money invested to support walking infrastructure, walking innovation, re-wilded cities, street trees with ample parks and greenspaces for everyone to enjoy.
