Walking In Your Neighborhood: Is it Age Friendly?

Why is it that we rarely consider walking to the bank or to the post office, even if it is less than a mile away?

See Also: Alternative Transportation: Getting Started

It is not due to our health, age, or lack of time. While many of us truly enjoy walking most of our communities simply aren’t “walker-friendly.” Our communities were built for motorists, resulting in unsafe intersections, streets without sidewalks, and a lack of benches for resting or waiting for public transportation. These and other factors can prevent us from walking regularly and using this easy, cheap, physically and environmentally healthy mode of transportation.

But don’t use this as an excuse to walk less and drive more.

We all need to make an effort to reach 10,000 steps a day. This should be our physical activity goal for good health. Instead, take action and get ready to walk. Team up with your family, friends, or neighbors, and do a “walkability” survey. You will find a step-by-step guide from AARP’s Create The Good^® “Sidewalks and Streets Survey.”
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