If you are like me and live or work about five blocks from the Metro and generally wait till the last minute to leave to catch the train, the hurried walk to the Metro counts as exercise!
I have been pleased to discover that walking briskly for at least thirty minutes a day is the amount recommended by the Surgeon General. This has resulted in some changes in the amount of time I spend in the gym!
New research confirms that daily walking to public transport for work or school can easily add up to 30 minutes. The amount of walking is influenced by the kind of transit you’re trying to catch, with most walking taking place on the way to and from trains (approximately 35-50 minutes), followed by peripheral bus trips (25-40 minutes), and the subway (20-35 minutes).
Last year, another study found that between 2001 and 2009, the estimated number of transit walkers in the United States increased by 28 percent, with an increasing proportion walking at least 30 minutes. I wonder if that is due to increasing urbanization or greater health consciousness.
Luckily, in Arlington, Virginia, we have many transit options to choose from, with the two Metro corridors and numerous bus stops. The question for me – an avid car user and a newcomer to the world of multimodal transportation – was one of incentive.
In the end, it came down to the use of my time. I could either spend 30 minutes doing cardio in the gym, or spend that time walking to the Metro as part of my commute. As a bonus, the walk outside was actually a bit of a stress relief and a chance to check out neighborhood happenings!
I found that my experience wasn’t unique. Research shows that physical activity is not only good for your physical health, but also improves attention, memory, and brain power.
For the record, the Surgeon General also recommends muscle-strengthening activities on two or more days. So I haven’t given up on the gym quite yet!
Photo by GlynLowe.com