Stockport Council is encouraging people to leave their car at home and swap the bus and train for a ticket to stride as part of ‘Walk to Work Week’.
The Council is supporting ‘Walk to Work Week’, which runs from 12th to 16th May, by urging employees and residents to make walking part of their daily commute.
People wanting to take part in ‘Walk to Work Week’ can log their walks on the Living Streets website, www.livingstreets.org.uk, and see calories burnt, CO2 saved and compete against other people.
Paul Lawrence, Corporate Director at Stockport Council, said:
“I would encourage people to take part in ‘Walk to Work Week’ as including walking into our daily journeys brings great benefits for individuals and Stockport as a whole.
“Walking all or part of your commute is an excellent way to get some activity into your day, doing wonders for both your mental and physical health. Even if it’s not practical to walk the whole way, by getting off the bus earlier or jumping off the train a couple of stops in advance, we can all walk more in our daily lives and reap the benefits as well as reducing our carbon footprint.”
National Travel Survey results published in December 2012 showed a 24% decline in the number of walking trips per person since the mid-90s. Physical inactivity now rivals smoking as a leading risk factor for global mortality.
To change this people are being encouraged to incorporate walking into their daily routine and taking part in ‘Walk to Work Week’ is a great way to start this. For more information visit www.stockport.gov.uk/walking