Top Ten Reasons to Walk to Work
Why Walking is Good for You and the Planet
If you are looking for good reasons to start walking to work, here are the top ten reasons.
There are good reasons to walk to work. If you live too far away to walk, you can also get the same benefits by bicycling to work.
The top ten reasons to walk to work are:
- It saves gas and money. Gas now tops $3.00 a gallon in the US and is even more expensive in many other industrialized countries. Let's do the math. Walking 2 miles each way to work five days a week adds up twenty miles a week. If instead you had driven that gas guzzler that gets twenty miles to the gallon, you would have used a gallon of gas, or about $3. Over a year walking to work for 50 weeks will save about 50 gallons of gas or $150.
- It reduces greenhouse emissions. That gas guzzler that would burn 50 gallons of gas driving you to work would also pump carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. By walking to work you are contributing to the fight against global warming. Keep up the good work.
- It saves money on parking fees. How much depends on how much its costs to park where you work.
- It's good exercise. Walking is an excellent cardiovascular exercise. You can get your exercise during your commute to work. It's a great way to get in the recommended 10000 steps a day. Among other things, cardiovascular fitness helps reduce blood pressure - in case your boss did something to raise it that day.
- Walking helps you lose weight. The four mile round trip commute five days a week, if at a good pace, will burn an extra 2000 calories a week. If you don't increase your eating, you can lose a little over a half pound a week. Or if you don't need to lose weight, you can go ahead and scarf down that stale donut someone left in the break room.
- It might be faster than driving. In many major cities, traffic gridlock is so bad that freeways are often at a standstill. You might actually be able to walk faster.
- Shoes are cheaper than tires. By walking rather than driving, you will be wearing out your shoes rather than your tires.
- Food is cheaper than gas. You are burning calories rather than gas, so you need to eat a little more food. Walking rather than driving supports a farmer rather than an oil mogul.
- Walking gives you time outside to think. When going to work, it helps you get ready for the day. Coming home, the workout helps you relieve the frustrations of the day. Thinking about work or other problems while walking can help you work them out.
The top reason to walk to work:
- It takes longer to get there. Hey, you're going to work; what's the rush?
The copyright of the article Top Ten Reasons to Walk to Work in Running & Marathons is owned by Paul A. Heckert. Permission to republish Top Ten Reasons to Walk to Work must be granted by the author in writing.
