For thousands of years, to get from Point
A to Point B, most people had no choice but to start walking. Some people had
access to horses and horse-drawn carriages, but not until the rise of the
automobile in the first half of the twentieth century did walking lose its
status in some societies as the most popular way to get where you’re going. This
change to a “car culture” definitely made it faster and easier to get from
place to place, but it also took away a significant source of physical activity
for many people. While many factors contribute to our country’s obesity
epidemic, the drastic decrease in steps Americans take each day has played a part.
In addition to reduced walking in our communities, the large amount of car traffic
contributes to air pollution.
Recognizing the vital role walking can
play in improving people’s health, the Surgeon General’s office created “Step
It Up!” and issued a call
to action last year to promote walking and communities designed to be
walkable.
That call to action is needed here in Thurston
County as well. Cities in the county have largely been built during the era of
increasing reliance on automobiles – they are spread out over a large area and
tend to have single-use zones of land use that make it more difficult to use
other forms of transportation. The rest of the county is very rural, meaning
that walking as a mode of transportation in those areas is also difficult. Thurston
Thrives, our community’s effort to improve health for all residents, has an
action area (Community Design) that is focused on supporting a shift back to
walkable ways of designing communities and encouraging the daily, moderate
physical activity of walking.
At least 30 minutes a day, 5 days a week
is recommended for adults to stay healthy (1 hour daily for kids). Even in a
community like ours, there are many ways to incorporate walking into your daily
routine. Whenever you have the chance to take a more active form of transportation
than driving alone, take it! Walking, bicycling or taking the bus not only
increase your physical activity, they help reduce air pollution. If you are
driving to your destination, choose a parking space far from the store entrance.
If you live or work in a multistory building, take the stairs instead of the
elevator. If you have a job that requires you to spend time in meetings, ask your
colleagues to head outside for a “moving meeting.” Albert Einstein believed
that the brain worked best at three miles per hour (the speed of a brisk walk),
and scientific studies have shown a relationship between walking and better performance
on tests that measure memory, attention, and creativity. You’ll find that in
addition to the health benefits of getting sunlight, fresh air, and physical
activity, your meetings might be more efficient, productive, and enjoyable as
well.
Another way to make walking a regular part
of your life is to go on a walk with your family after dinner each night. While
strenuous physical activities can interfere with digestion and cause cramps,
mild exercise like walking actually assists your body in digesting your meal
and can improve blood sugar levels too. Perhaps even more importantly, a
nightly stroll can provide busy families with much-needed bonding time at the
end of each day, improving the mental and emotional health of parents and
children alike. Joining or forming a neighborhood walking club is also an
option, and can be a great way to get to know your neighbors better and create
stronger social ties within your local community. Since the sun still sets
pretty early this time of year, be sure to wear reflective clothing or carry a
flashlight in order to be visible to drivers after dark.
If you’re ready to step it up, check out the
Thurston Regional Planning Council’s “Here to There”
website, which provides walking maps and other resources that will make it
easier than ever to add more walking to your life. If you want to be part of
the effort to make our communities more walkable, or address clean air issues,
get involved with the Community
Design or Environment
action teams. Together, with each step we take, we can make Thurston County a
healthier place for everyone!