What is Park & Stride?

Park and Stride is for those that live too far away to walk to work or school. You park a distance away from your end location and walk the rest, so you get exercise whilst reducing congestion. This could be your workplace, school or even popping round to see a friend; anywhere, as long as you arrive on foot.

You may have heard of this before, Living Streets host these for schools around the country; but this isn’t just a school’s activity, and it isn’t just an organised living streets event, anyone can take part and we encourage you to do so.

It’s recommended to start at least 10 minutes walking distance away to begin with, then if you’re feeling confident or have the spare time, challenge yourself and increase the distance!

Why Park and stride?

Most commuters drive into the office to then sit at a desk for 7.5 hours! Those extra steps either side of your workday could have positive improvements directly for your health, both mentally and physically, whilst also having indirect effects that can positively affect your community.

Here are some direct benefits that could come from walking that last mile:

Health

Incorporating a daily walk into your routine can lead to improved physical and mental health. Walking can help to improve cardiovascular health, strengthen muscles and bones, and reduce the risk of chronic diseases such as obesity, diabetes, and heart disease; whilst also leading to improved mental health, reducing stress, anxiety, and depression.

Not having to worry about driving and parking, within more congested metropolitan areas is better for both our mental and physical health; repeated stress can lead to high blood pressure, which may lead to heart disease or strokes.

Savings

Small indirect costs such as parking fees, tolls, and the cost of idling cars in congestion can start to add up. By reducing the use of single occupancy vehicles, individuals can avoid these additional costs and reduce their overall transportation expenses.

Community engagement

Walking provides opportunities for social interaction and community engagement, which is great, especially when you’re new to the area. Driving a single occupancy vehicle can often be quite lonely, involving long periods of time alone in a vehicle. By incorporating sustainable travel into daily life, you will have the opportunity to break out of isolated routines and connect with others in their communities.

Whilst walking has direct benefits to the individual, there are also some indirect benefits that come with a larger volume of pedestrians:

Support Local Businesses

Using sustainable travel options can support local businesses and promote walkable, liveable communities. Walking can help to create a more pedestrian-friendly environment, encouraging the development of local shops, restaurants, and other amenities that support community engagement and interaction. The idea of liveable communities has already begun to come to fruition, in forms of Low Traffic Neighbourhoods (LTNs), which are gaining popularity and providing positive results.

Future impact

Incorporating sustainable travel into daily life can help to create demand for more sustainable transportation infrastructure, such as cycle lanes, pedestrian walkways, and public transportation systems. This can lead to the development of more sustainable communities, where walking, cycling, and public transportation are safe and accessible modes of transportation for everyone.

So, try Park & Stride now! The enjoy the warmer weather, the longer days and support your local businesses! (pubs)…

See here for how you can start and continue to use active travel in your day-to-day lives.