We all know we should probably drive less and walk more, but how many of us actually heed the advice? Everyone has to get from one place to another on a regular basis yet we continue to ignore a mode of transport that helps us to improve our health and lifestyle, all the while being completely free.

The answer, of course, is because it can often seem so much easier and simpler to jump in the car for that one-mile trip downtown, so we conveniently forget all the advantages that walking has over driving. Not anymore!

Walking saves money

An obvious one, but walking is free. Unlike when taking a cab, an Uber or public transport, you don’t have to pay to get from A to B when you walk. If you give up the car for short, walkable journeys, you’ll find yourself saving money on gas, maintenance and downtown parking fees. It all adds up, and you’ll be amazed how much less you are spending.

Walking has health benefits

There are so many health benefits from walking; it is hard to know where to start. Moving around outdoors can lift a person’s mood quickly and help combat the symptoms of depression. The act of walking can help reduce stress as it pushes cortisol, the hormone reduced in response to stress around the body, and it can help your clear and rest your mind.

You won’t break down when you walk

There is nothing worse than your car breaking down on you, especially if you don’t have any of the equipment on the preparedness mama emergency car kit list which might help fix it. You don’t have to worry about mechanical failure or waiting for an age for somebody to come and fix something if you are walking.

Walking can be quicker

People often underestimate how long they spend behind the wheel or on public transport as they only calculate the journey time in terms of getting from place to place. That doesn’t take into account the traffic you can end up caught in, finding a parking space and then walking from where you have parked to your final destination. When you factor all those extras in, walking can, in fact, be a quicker mode of transport.

You can take in the world around you when you walk

When you are cooped up in a car, and especially when you are driving yourself, you don’t have time to admire the world around you. You are either going too fast to take everything in or having to concentrate too much on the road to have a look at it. When you walk, you have all the time in the world to take in your surroundings and appreciate how beautiful our planet can be.

Walking saves the planet

A 2014 study from the United States Environmental Protection Agency revealed that the US was responsible for releasing 6,870 million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalents into the atmosphere – the second most polluting country in the world after China. By walking, you’ll be reducing your carbon footprint and helping to release less poisonous gasses into the atmosphere, going a little way to helping to save the planet.