Many people like to walk—and it’s often touted as one of the easiest forms of physical activity—but they don’t always have a safe place to do it. That’s why U.S. Surgeon General Vivek H. Murthy says “we need to step it up as a country, ensuring that everyone can choose to walk in their own communities.”
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Step It Up! The Surgeon General’s Call to Action to Promote Walking and Walkable Communities addresses the fact that many communities lack safe and convenient places for people to walk or wheelchair roll. That’s unacceptable, Dr. Murthy charges. He points to a 2013 U.S. Department of Transportation study that found 3 of every 10 Americans report that their neighborhood streets have no sidewalks. Moreover, in many communities, violence, or the perception of violence can prove a barrier to walking.
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Dr. Murthy is challenging civic planners and local leaders to create more areas for walking and wheelchair rolling and to make safe routes for children going to and from school a priority. His call to action includes designing more sidewalks, curb cuts, crosswalks, safe crossings for the visually impaired, and more green spaces. He also calls on city managers, law enforcement, and public health leaders to devise ways to better maintain public spaces, work with residents to promote shared community ownership, improve street lighting, and encourage neighborhood watch programs.
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“We know that an average of 22 minutes a day of physical activity—such as brisk walking—can significantly reduce the risk of heart disease and diabetes,” Dr. Murthy said. “The key is to get started, because even a small first effort can make a big difference in improving the personal health of an individual and the public health of the nation.”
Visit http://www.surgeongeneral.gov/library/calls/walking-and-walkable-communities/index.html for more information about promoting walkable communities—and for the Surgeon General’s walking playlist on Pandora.