Media Release 4 March 2015

Get out on your feet next Wednesday 11 March Walk2Work Day to celebrate the universal method of getting around and one we do every day – walking, and its natural partner the bus or train.

Increasingly the health benefits of active commuting and using public transport are being recognised and are well researched. This is a way to combat poor health and the obesity epidemic and prevent a polluted environment. For every 1200 steps or 12 minutes walking (about 1 kilometre) you burn calories, improve your health and happiness, and reduce your disease risk. 1300 steps save 72 cents on car costs, and avoid 0.2kgs of carbon emission.

People who commute by bus or train and ferry, get on average over three times the exercise of those in a car. And bus and trains are the safest way to get around.

The question is if it’s so great why aren’t more people walking and using public transport? Living Streets president, Andy Smith says, “Walking is part of every trip and we want people to walk more. Surveys show that more people are walking and using public transport in some places but our cities have been developed for the car. This makes it difficult to get the exercise we need every day – recommended 30 minutes activity most days for adults, and more for children and teenagers. We think it should be easy to walk or use public transport to where you want to go every day – save the car for out of the ordinary trips.

We want to see the government promote walking and public transport through events like Walk2Work Day, and make a fundamental change to more people-centred cities.”

Living Streets Aotearoa started the annual walk day in 2009 to promote walking, its health benefits, and its priority position in sustainable transport. Next Wednesday there will be events happening in Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and Palmerston North. Check out your local council for details or search Walk2Work Day.

Wellington Region will see some walk and bus action from Mayor Wallace on the 170 from Wainuiomata at 8.42am on his way to the council office. And Mayor Wade-Brown is walking down the hill from Salamanca Road at 7.45am to partake in the free waterfront breakfast.

For those bussing in from Kilbirnie and Karori there might be a bit of drama at the bus stop and Carterton commuters will find a flyer coming their way. Train folks won’t miss out either with some map-taking at Waterloo, and is that an apple at the Wellington Railway Station.

There’s more to get you stepping out as the day progresses with Park(ing) spots re-imagined around Wellington and Murder and Mayhem at the Bolton St cemetery in the evening.

And if your day takes you to Coastlands shops then check out your health at the walk spot in the mall.

www.livingstreets.org.nz

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