The COVID-19 pandemic has led British Columbians to rethink the way we move around our communities and how we inhabit the space within them.
Walking offers various opportunities for social connection and mental well-being, something many of us might need after weeks of social isolation. Here are a few reasons why walking is good for us and how it can help to improve our overall well being.
Walking helps to promote social interaction and is a great opportunity to connect with others during a time that can be quite isolating for many. Walking with friends, family and neighbours is a great way to remain connected and socialize with your community while maintaining the best social distancing practices.
Walking can help to prevent cognitive decline. This means increased memory, learning and thinking abilities.
Walking 30-minutes a day 3-5 times a week can help to boost your mood and energy by releasing endorphins. As many British Columbians shift to working from home, walking is a great way to take a midday break and come back feeling refreshed and alert.
Consider joining a local walking club in your community or starting one if none already exists. If you prefer walking on your own, but want some extra motivation or sense of community, consider joining one of the Living Streets 2020 online walking groups. The groups can be accessed through either the Strava or ChallengeRunner (challenge code: bc03ru-2d0t) apps.
With the rise of this ‘new normal’ and Dr. Bonnie Henry’s plea to ‘please go outside’, many municipalities are changing how space is allocated to allow for more accessible opportunities for active transportation -- walking included.
Municipalities across the province are doing their part to improve the accessibility to safe walking spaces. Here are a few examples:
North Vancouver: Destination and neighbourhood streets are part of the City of North Vancouver’s Open Streets Action Plan. This initiative has the goal of promoting the health and safety of residents while allowing space for physical distancing.
Kelowna: Downtown streets are being opened up to pedestrians and limited to cars for the summer month, allowing more space to explore the downtown while adhering to physical distancing measures.
Oak Bay: The community has temporarily reallocated parking spaces for pedestrian use allowing more space for physical distancing.
Check out the What’s Happening in your Area page to learn more about how communities around BC are becoming more walkable.
Let us know what your community is doing to promote walking for social connection and mental wellbeing, or about barriers to walking in your community. Fill out the Living Streets Survey.
