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.

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 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 but we want people to walk more. We do see more people walk and use 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. This Wednesday people nation-wide are encouraged to give walking, or walking and taking public transport- a go. There will be events happening in the CBDs of Auckland, Wellington, and Palmerston North, while in Christchurch, organisers are putting on a special event at Hillmorton Hospital. There will be free breakfast treats, discounted coffees and spot prizes for the hospital staff. Check out your local council for details or search Walk2Work Day.

About Living Streets
Living Streets Aotearoa is New Zealand’s national walking and pedestrian organisation, providing a positive voice for people on foot and working to promote walking friendly planning and development around the country. Our vision is “More people choosing to walk more often and enjoying public places”.

The objectives of Living Streets Aotearoa are:
• to promote walking as a healthy, environmentally-friendly and universal means of transport and recreation
• to promote the social and economic benefits of pedestrian-friendly communities
• to work for improved access and conditions for walkers, pedestrians and runners including walking surfaces, traffic flows, speed and safety
• to advocate for greater representation of pedestrian concerns in national, regional and urban land use and transport planning.

www.livingstreets.org.nz

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