Walk to Thrive

Graham Barker, writing for netdoctor, expounds on the benefits of walking:

Walking is often called the perfect exercise. It’s remarkable something so simple – putting one foot in front of the other – can be so restorative and invigorating.

But the medical evidence is compelling. Taking regular brisk walks helps you stay healthy, live longer and boosts your self-esteem and mood.

While Graham mostly argues for making a point of including walking in daily activity, what if it was automatically included? What if our built environment, our human habitat, was so calibrated towards walking that getting the recommended amount of daily activity would occur naturally? This is where public health and urban planning intersect - how and what we build has a tremendous impact on how well we live. Isn’t it time we build to thrive?