CHAPTER TWO Part 2:
Walking to Physical and Mental Health
“Knowledge is the antidote of fear.”
Author unknown
The very real hazards of walking
Fear of urban crime may be a factor in preventing some urban area people from
exercising outdoors. Sensational news reports of joggers and walkers
ambushed by muggers, rapists, and murderers on urban fitness trails have fanned
their fears of outdoor exercise. Nevertheless, the main cause of poor
physical condition of most Americans is the “ideal urban good life” lifestyle
that many American adults have incorporated into their collective behavioral
pattern; patterns we are mindlessly passing on to the offspring of “The Me
Generation.” So you can see that urbanization, along with fear of crime
and a dangerous sedentary lifestyle, is playing key roles in the major American
health problem of obesity.
The fear of being attacked by a felon often makes people overlook the real
dangers of walker-vehicle accidents. The Federal Highway Administration
(FHWA) has issued a report that stated that pedestrian-vehicle accidents kill
6,000 and injure 90,000 walkers or bicyclists. These fatalities and
injuries resulted in more than $20 billion in societal costs. However,
the FHWA has set goals to reduce the current number of walking and bicycling
injuries and fatalities by 10 percent and double the percentage of trips made
by walking and bicycling.
In an annual report titled, “Mean Streets, 1998 Children at Risk,” released by
the Surface Transportation Policy Project stated: “In fact, on a per-mile
basis, walking is more dangerous than driving, flying, or riding a bus or train
.... We found that most fatalities, 69 percent, occur on neighborhood streets.”
Who walks with Beauty has no need of fear;
The sun and moon and stars keep pace with him,
Invisible hands restore the ruined year,
And time, itself, grows beautifully dim.
David Morton 1886-1957
Too many accidents are a result of urban planning that assumes that the only
way to get around is by motor vehicle, without provisions for walkers. Without
sidewalks, the choice for the walker is to either jaywalk in the street or trespass
on somebody’s front yard. Vice-President
Al Gore, speaking about the impact of sprawl development on our lives during a
speech announcing the Administration’s new Smart Growth proposals on January
11, 1999, said:
“Many communities have no sidewalks, and nowhere to walk to, which is bad for
public safety as well as for our nation’s physical health. It has become
impossible in such settings for neighbors to greet one another on the street,
or for kids to walk to their own nearby schools. A gallon of gas can be
used up just driving to get a gallon of milk. All of these add up to more
stress for already over-stressed family lives.”
Walking near home
“Take a two-mile walk every morning before
breakfast.”
‑ Harry S. Truman 1884‑1972. Truman was the 33rd
president of the United States. (Taken from advice on how to live to be 80 on
his 80th birthday.)
The average person may not be fully aware of all the nearby walking
opportunities. Trail information is often found at local municipal park
offices. These offices usually have maps, brochures, and other
information on local parks, parkways, and other facilities with walking opportunities.
Also, check with the local county, state, and federal offices. There are
often walking trails in nearby forests, parks, and wildlife management areas,
as well as in soil conservation districts and Corps of Engineer developments.
Also, shopping malls, civic centers, and universities have often laid out
measured walking courses. In addition, many cities now have skywalk
systems though their business districts. All of these offer first‑class
walking opportunities, which are free of vehicle problems, inclement weather,
and slippery surfaces.
Recent trail developments in the United States are bituminous paved paths that
cities and states construct, for bicycling and walking, are between eight and
twelve feet in width, however, some of these trail corridors have separate
treads for bike and pedestrian traffic. These paved pathways are very
popular in Europe, where they connect villages, towns, and cities. They
are now found in many areas in the United States. One example is in the
San Francisco Bay Area where many communities are connected by these paved
paths, they are heavily used by both bicyclists and walkers for both commuting
and recreation. Building these paths is an inexpensive way to get people
out of their cars and reduce air pollution.
The main advantage of these paved paths is that they provide easy walking and
biking on a level, smooth surface that is separated from the motor vehicle
traffic. Some of these paved trails also connect to bus and light rail
stops, encouraging the use of mass transit systems.
Sidewalk Walking
“There
is a big difference between being a smart cookie and being a smart aleck.”
James Patrick Buchanan
Many people still prefer to do much of their walking on their own neighborhood
sidewalks. Walks, often taken early in the morning, and early evening,
are good opportunities for families to exercise together, meet their neighbors
and to learn more about their community.
Nature trails
Many parks and forests now have self guided nature trails that feature items
such as vegetation, geological structures, or historic sites. Quite often
these featured sites are only marked by numbered posts which identify a
location on a trail guide. Nature trails and their guides can be very
helpful in understanding an area’s ecology and history. So, if you are
new to an area, it is often the best idea to walk the nature trails first;
either as part of a naturalist guided hike, or on your own with a trail guide
in hand.
They develop Easy Walking Nature Trails mainly to allow the handicapped trail
access to natural areas. These are usually hard surfaced looped trails
located near the visitor centers of parks and forests campgrounds. For
many people these short informative trails satisfy the need for both area
background information and exercise. Easy Walking Nature Trails have a
level and smooth tread permitting a trail experience by people in wheelchairs
and by those who use walkers, as well as by parents pushing child strollers or
joggers.
Night Walking
Sometimes, underestimating the time needed to complete a hike is easy, and we
end up completing our walk in the dark. Consequently, carrying a flashlight
when you are going out on a hike of any length is wise. A flashlight
could save you from tripping over something in the dark or having to spend a
night in the open. However, when used for nighttime walking on wide
trails or narrow roads after dark, a flashlight allows the walker to experience
the nocturnal outdoors, whether it is through a forest or open
grasslands. Nature centers often use night hikes to acquaint visitors
with the nighttime environment.
Note: Nighttime
walkers should carry flashlights, flashing lights, and/or wear reflectors or
reflective tape to make sure drivers see walkers.
“Fortune favors the prepared.”
Author Unknown
Dog Attack
In the opinion of the writer, the best defense against an aggressive dog is a
hiking staff or cane. A metal or wooden staff will always be in your
hands, or nearby, when you need it and it needs no batteries. Moreover,
your hiking staff does not deteriorate over time as chemical repellents can do.
Also, a staff might offer protection from a small rabid animal such as a skunk.
“Her walk revealed her as a true goddess.”
Virgil Maro
Olympic Race Walking
The Summer Olympic Games has 20 kilometers, 50 kilometers, and 10,000 meter
race walking events. One interesting note for Americans: In the 1906
Athens Games, George Bonhag won the Gold medal in the 1500 meter race walk,
setting an Olympic record. American Olympians have never won another gold
medal in race walking since.
For more information, contact:
USA Track & Field at:
https://www.usatf.org/disciplines/race-walking
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