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Stop Rolling Start Strolling
It's time to STOP ROLLING AND START STROLLING! You can help yourself and the environment stay healthy by walking instead of using your car.
Here you will find lots of information on the different ways you can get walking across South Yorkshire and why it is a good idea to use your feet. Throughout 2009 we will be encouraging businesses and individuals to consider reducing unnecessary vehicle use and get walking to improve air quality for everyone!
Traffic causes many air pollutants that are damaging to your health. These air pollutants are responsible for more than 32,000 premature deaths in the UK each year alone. Children living in heavily trafficked streets are more likely to develop chronic respiratory problems and the health impacts of traffic pollution cost £11.1 billion per year.
Pollution from traffic is also a major cause of greenhouse gases which are causing catastrophic climate change to our planet.
By taking steps towards reducing how often you use your car you will be improving your health and helping keep the environment healthy too.
Why not reduce your carbon footprint and help tackle climate change by walking to work? Commuting accounts for 16% of all trips but 24% of all CO2 emissions.
Give the 5 Walk to Work Week challenges a go:
- Walk all or part of your way to work.
- Unleash your creativity! Take a “walking meeting” and let the ideas flow.
- Ditch your desk. Get out and enjoy your local area during your lunch hour.
- Take a walk with a friend, the perfect way to catch up and unwind.
- Escape the rush hour and walk all or part of your journey home.
Walk to Work Week runs across the UK from Monday 27th April to Friday 1st May. But it doesn't have to stop there! Walking can benefit your health and wellbeing, help the environment and save you money. Thousands of people across the UK will be walking to work, so get involved!
50% of all car journeys are under 2 miles - so if you're not going far, don't use your car! Try walking to the shops or doing the school run on foot instead.
Walking 2 miles takes less than half an hour and on average you'll burn 200 calories! By putting your best foot forward you'll ease traffic congestion, help reduce harmful vehicle emissions in the air, and keep healthy.
There are plenty of schemes in your area to help you take the first steps towards cutting down on using your car for short journeys.
People in Barnsley can get Walkactiv by training to be a volunteer walk leader and setting up their own walking groups to pass on their knowledge and experience to encourage people to be more active.
Everyone can get Fitter for Walking in Rotherham and Doncaster by leaving the car at home and walking more as part of their daily routine.
Jofli the bear is in Sheffield to help children Walk Once a Week to school - they can take Jofli home if they have walked to school and write about their journey in Jofli's special notebook.
National Walk to School Week is from 18th - 22nd May.
European Mobility Week is from 16th - 22nd September and the theme for 2009 is climate change. Like the rest of Europe, most of the 1.26 million people of South Yorkshire live mainly in urban areas. Our towns and cities are where most activity takes place and this is where most of our air pollution originates.
CO2 produced by vehicle emissions is causing abnormal climate change through the 'greenhouse effect'. Many people complain of a poor quality of life in towns due to air pollution, noise pollution and overcrowding. Yet, the number of cars on our roads is increasing.
To help act against pollution caused by traffic in our towns there will a series of events during European Mobility Week, including In Town Without My Car Day.
Show your support for cleaner air this year by ditching your car on 22nd September and heading into town on foot instead!
Remember to plan your journey and stay safe when you are out and about on foot.
Take a step in the right direction with walkit.com to see how walking in and around Sheffield can often be a smart choice. Plan your route, find out the distance and time it will take to walk, see how many calories you'll burn, check the weather forecast and see how much CO2 you'll avoid producing!
Have a look at the Map Movies if you are walking in Rotherham. The seven different map movies show walking routes to local amenities and shops and have an added function allowing instant access to real time bus information at local stops.
Remember - walking makes you feel good by:
- giving you more energy
- reducing stress
- helping you sleep better
- keeping your heart strong
- reducing blood pressure
- lowering cholesterol
and it helps to keep the environment healthy too!
Events
Spring Into Health Week
19th - 26th April - Wombwell Woods, Rotherham
A weeklong programme full of fun healthy activities providing the ideal opportunity to try something new, get active and explore your local woodlands.
Visit their website for more information
Walk to Work Week
27th April � 1st May - UK
The first ever Walk to Work Week will be taking place across the UK. It'll tone you up, trim you down and help keep your heart healthy. It saves on petrol and bus fares, and is better for the planet. For businesses, getting your staff to walk to work will lower your company's carbon footprint and make your workforce more productive. And it'll cost you nothing!
Visit their website for more information
Walk To School Week
18-22nd May - Uk
Ditch the car and walk to school. The theme this year is 'Walk n Talk', highlighting the social side to walking to school. Find out how fun it can be!
Visit their website for more information
Barnsley Walking Festival
25 May to 30 June - Barnsley
Barnsley Walking Festival 2009 is supported by Barnsley Fit for the Future.
Visit their website for more information
Walk Sheffield Festival
30th May � 7th June - Sheffield
City centre historical tour? Best view from an English church? Woodland and valley strolls? Challenging hike? With walks all over the city with different themes and different levels of difficulty there could be something just right for you.
Visit their website for more information
National Liftshare Day
9th June - UK
Find someone travelling your way so you can share your journey � saving money, cutting your carbon footprint and having fun! The popular event aims to raise the profile of car-sharing and encourage and enable more people give it a try. And in view of the economic climate, the focus this year is on the many hundreds of pounds that regular car-sharers can save every year. How much could you save?
Visit their website for more information
10th Annual Rotherham Walking Festival
29th June � 5th July - Rotherham
Catch up with old friends, try new routes, or simply enjoy the countryside. Rotherham�s 10th annual walking festival returns with a week of walking events throughout the borough.
Visit their website for more information
European Mobility Week
16th � 22nd September - UK
European cities and towns will be participating in the most widespread event on sustainable mobility, the European Mobility Week. The 2009 theme is climate change - one of the biggest challenges facing the world today. European Mobility Week aims to increase public awareness of the need to act against pollution caused by the increase in motorised traffic in the urban environment.
Visit their website for more information
In Town Without My Car Day
22nd September - UK
Running as part of European Mobility Week, the eighth In Town Without My Car Day is an opportunity to show how matters related to the environment concern you. Leave your car at home and get walking!
Visit their website for more information
Walk To School Month
October - UK
A chance for for pupils, parents, schools and local authorities to come together and promote walking to school and all the health, safety, social and environmental benefits it brings.
Visit their website for more information
Walking for Health
All year - Doncaster
Short organised walks, designed with health in mind, which are perfect for those who would like to become more active or perhaps lack the confidence and knowledge about where to walk. The walks run throughout the year. For a timetable please call 01302 737616.
Email the organisers for more information
Steps to Health
Every Thursday 10am - Wath Park, Rotherham
Take a weekly walk lasting about 1 hour through Wath Park. For more information call: 01709 822453.
Download their leaflet for more information
Sheffield Step out to a Better Lifestyle
All year - Sheffield
A series of walks across Sheffield throughout the week.
Download their leaflet for more information
Walks for Women
All year - Doncaster
The Barnsley Walking Festival has joined the Change4Life movement and will be encouraging everyone to Walk4Life, move more and live longer. To get Walkactive and find more details please call Walking Co-ordinator Pete Hodgson on 01226 734037.
Email the organisers for more information