Walking to School
Walking, everyone does it, don’t they?
On average, everyone in Britain travels 6,843 miles a year, yet only 186 of these miles were done on foot – that is less than 3%. In addition to this, a quarter of all car trips are less than 2 miles long.
Why should I walk?
Walking is an excellent form of exercise. Experts state that you should be active for at least 30 minutes a day(60 minutes for children), 5 or more days a week, although this can easily be split into 10 or 15 minute bursts.
Walking helps to..
- reduce the risk of developing heart disease and stroke
- prevent high blood pressure
- control your weight and cope with stress
- maintain good mental health
Inactivity has a level of risk for heart disease that is roughly equivalent to having high blood pressure, high cholesterol levels or smoking.
How can walking help?
Walking is a great way to use energy. Someone who weighs around 62kg (9st 11lbs) will use about 100 calories to walk a mile in 20 minutes. A regular (33g) packet of crisps usually has around 180 calories.
Did you know?
Walking one mile in 20 minutes uses as much energy as…
- Running a mile in 10 minutes
- Swimming breast stroke for 10 minutes
- Playing football for 12 minutes
- Doing aerobics for 16 minutes
- Weight training for 17 minutes
…and you can fit in a quick walk a lot easier than a trip to the gym! Try walking to the local shops, to work or to your childs school instead of heading for the car.
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For further information about this page please contact:
Roads, Traffic & Transportation
Kilncraigs, Greenside Street, Alloa, FK10 1EB
Tel: 01259 452369 / 450000 Fax: 01259 727451
Email: roads@clacks.gov.uk
Or use the on-line contact form
