We know we need to be physically active if we want to stay healthy.

Walking. It's easy, it's cheap, and it gets you where you want to go. And it's good for your health!

Yet many of us — often without even thinking about it — take the car, the escalator, or the moving walkway rather than use our own two legs and feet for transportation.

This results in daily missed opportunities for physical activity.

Walking is an excellent form of physical activity, particularly because of its versatility. Almost anyone can do it anywhere. You can be any age and at any fitness level. You can walk outdoors or indoors.

Like other forms of physical activity, walking can help you get in shape, maintain your weight, reduce stress, improve your outlook on life, and even lower your risk for chronic illness. At a minimum, aim for a brisk 30-minute walk five days a week If you're pressed for time, you can do two 15-minute walks or even three 10-minute walks.


Safety Tips

	Wear shoes with good support and traction to prevent slipping and falling.
	Use paths and sidewalks whenever available.
	If you must walk on or near a road or street, face on coming traffic so you can see drivers.
	Wear bright or fluorescent colors, such as hot pink, blaze orange, and neon green so that you are easier to spot.
	Don't walk after dark.
	Look in all directions before crossing a street or intersection. Avoid hazardous crossings and intersections when possible.
	If you wear headphones, keep the volume low enough so that you still can hear what is going on around you — a horn, oncoming traffic, voices.
	Pause at curbs and allow yourself plenty of time to cross streets.
	Heed all traffic signs and signals.

Be alert to opportunities for cultivating walking buddies. For instance, you might even meet a fellow walking partner on a solo trek. Whether you're a casual walker, hiker and walk-a-toner, or race walker, chances are you can find others in your community to walk with. And once you start, keep walking!