Benefits of walking

Walking is the cheapest mode of transport and is beneficial for both your health and the environment. Walking also enables you to get to your desired destination without having to worry about traffic or public transport delays; often choosing to walk can cut your journey time significantly in busy towns and cities. Walking helps to keep you fit and healthy as well as enabling you to enjoy the surroundings you live in.

Disadvantages of walking

While there are several advantages to walking relating to short journeys, it is often not possible to complete longer journeys on foot. Walking may take a long time and may be tiring over the course of a longer journey.

Environmental benefits

Walking has many benefits for the environment as it helps to reduce the number of cars on the road, which decreases carbon emissions and makes the air cleaner and fresher. Walking to school instead of using the car will drastically reduce the number of cars on the road and decrease the traffic-related problems at rush hour in most towns and cities.

Road safety

It is important to be aware of how to cross the road safely from an early age as this will reduce the possibility of being involved in an accident. When crossing the road, you should always try to use a designated crossing place; if the crossing is controlled by a light system you should always wait for the green man to appear before you cross. On zebra crossings you should take care to look for oncoming traffic and ensure any approaching traffic is stopping before you cross. If there is no crossing, you should take care to look in both directions before you cross and make sure there is a sufficient gap; do not try to cross close to a junction, on the brow of a hill or by a blind bend. If you are walking on a country road where there are no lights you should wear reflective clothing and walk in the direction of oncoming traffic; this will enable vehicles to see you and slow down accordingly.