Benefits of walking
Health benefitsEconomic benefits
Transport benefits
Social benefits
Environmental benefits
Tourism benefits
Walking is an important form of sustainable transport which costs nothing and offers a wide range of benefits to the individual as well as the community.
Incorporating walking into your daily routine can be as easy as walking short trips to work, combining walking with the use of public transport or walking to the local shops.
Walking is part of every journey we make. It is important that people are encouraged to walk more often. As a regular activity, walking:
- improves health and fitness for individuals in the community
- reduces air pollution and traffic congestion
- provides children with an informal learning environment for their physical, practical, emotional and social development
- improves local neighbourhoods when goods and services are purchased locally
- provides people with the opportunity to interact with others in their community
- increases a sense of safety with more people out and about.
Health benefits
Walking has many health benefits. As a regular activity, walking is important in the prevention of:
- heart disease
- stroke
- type 2 diabetes
- falls, fractures and injuries (through improved strength and coordination)
- colon cancer
- hypertension (high blood pressure)
- osteoporosis
- depression
- lower back pain.
Walking also improves:
- psychological well-being
- metabolism
- muscle strength and flexibility
- strength and endurance
- respiratory function
- concentration and memory.
As well as:
- strengthening the immune system
- increasing energy levels
- managing weight.
Lack of physical activity is a major contributor to obesity and a range of health issues. Walking can increase the levels of physical activity in the community and reduce health care expenditures.
For more information on the health benefits of walking visit TravelSmart health
Children walking
Walking can contribute to children's health by providing regular physical activity. Health professionals recommend that children and youths (5 - 18 years) undertake at least 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity every day to keep healthy.
Children who walk to school can benefit from regular exercise and improved concentration and memory. Outdoor activity such as walking is important for children as it contributes to the development of physical, practical, emotional and social skills. For tips about walking for children, see kids walking and tips for walkers.
Information about Walking School Buses is available at TravelSmart Australia–Walking School Bus and kids walking.
Adults walking
Health professionals recommend about thirty minutes of moderate intensity physical activity each day for adults. This time can be broken up into segments such as three lots of ten minutes of activity.
Economic benefits
Walking is the most convenient and least costly form of physical activity. Walking to work, school, college, public transport or to the shops are great ways to include walking in your day.
Local businesses can experience economic improvement when people use local shops within walking distance of their home or work.
Businesses that encourage staff to walk to work benefit from increased productivity as a result of improved employee fitness and mental health. Staff who walk are generally more punctual and take less sick days due to improved health.
More people walking also reduces stress on health services and road maintenance costs.
Transport benefits
Walking is a low cost, healthy and sustainable mode of transport. Walking to public transport, work, school, university, college or to the shops are great ways to include walking in your day.
Many local trips are no more than a kilometre and can be walked by most people in about 10 - 15 minutes. By leaving the car at home and walking short distances you can help reduce traffic congestion, air and noise pollution.
The majority of car trips to school are within walking distance. You can significantly reduce traffic congestion around schools by walking these trips. For more information visit TravelSmart schools and kids walking.
What trips are ideal for walking?
Short distance trips are ideal for walking. You can easily walk to:
- the bus, train and ferry
- community facilities, for example the library and local shops
- visit friends and neighbours in your local community.
So why not leave the car at home and take a walk? It's good for you, the environment and will save you money on car maintenance, fuel and parking.
How long will it take me to walk?
To work out how long it will take you to walk to your local shops, schools, work and public transport facilities visit TravelSmart health.
TravelSmart
TravelSmart encourages the use of environmentally-friendly transport such as public transport, cycling, walking and carpooling. For more information about TravelSmart programs visit TravelSmart.
Social benefits
Walking is the most socially inclusive mode of transport and is available to most people, regardless of age, gender, education or income.
Walking is a great way to socialise with friends and neighbours. More people walking creates a safer, more friendly and more connected community.
Some of the social benefits of walking include:
- encouraging family and community connectedness
- improving social skills and networks
- prolonging independent living for seniors
- reducing isolation and loneliness
- enhancing self-esteem and confidence.
Environmental benefits
Walking is the most environmentally-friendly mode of transport which costs nothing and offers a wide range of benefits to the individual as well as the community. One of the best ways you can reduce traffic congestion, air and noise pollution is to leave the car at home for short distance trips and walk instead. For more information visit environmentally sustainable transport.
When you walk instead of using the car for short distance trips, you contribute to the creation of a healthy environment by:
- reducing traffic congestion
- reducing air and noise pollution
- creating a safer, more social and liveable community.
A walkable environment will encourage people to walk more and use sustainable transport (see providing for pedestrians) which will reduce car use and traffic congestion. For more information on walkable communities visit Pedestrian and Bicycling Information Center*.
Walking and climate change
The average Australian family's transport is estimated to generate about six tonnes of greenhouse gas each year mostly due to car usage.1 Walking more and using the car less, especially for short distance trips, will help reduce greenhouse gas emissions as short distance car trips are the least fuel efficient and generate the greatest level of pollution per kilometre travelled.2
Including walking in your daily routine is good for you, the environment and helps reduce your fuel bill. For tips on ways you can reduce your carbon footprint and your fuel bill visit Climate change and greenhouse gas emissions.3
For tips on using environmentally-friendly transport visit the TravelSmart website.
References:
1Australian Government Department of Climate Change (2007) Transport–Tips for Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions.
2Australian Government Department of Climate Change (2007) Transport–Tips for Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions.
3Australian Government Department of Climate Change (2007) Transport–Tips for Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions.
Tourism benefits
Tourism boosts local economies and providing for pedestrians is a great way to encourage visitors to see your local area. Pedestrian facilities that create safe and attractive environments with a range of amenities will encourage walking and attract visitors to local areas.
See promoting walking and providing for pedestrians for advice on what local councils can do to develop pedestrian-friendly facilities and encourage walking in their local communities. See also benefits of walking for more information.
*The content found by using this link is not created, controlled or approved by this department. No responsibility is taken for the consequences of viewing content on this site. This link will load into a new window.
Last updated 01 March 2009
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