If you think about it, almost everywhere is within walking distance... if you have the time. For those of us who would rather use our time to take a walk with a friend or have a walking meeting, the benefits of walking (over driving) are too numerous to include in this post, so let’s just keep it simple by saying - In most cities… Walking > Driving.

To help you ‘Walk rather than Drive’, here’s a simple 2-step process:  (Get it? ‘2-Step’ process? [tap-tap] Is this thing on?)

1 - Call up a friend you’ve been meaning to connect with. 

2 - Ask them for gas money. When they curiously turn you down and start worrying about your life choices, surprise them by saying you would like to take a walk and just wanted to see if they were available to catch up.  

By choosing to walk rather than Drive, you may start to self-identify as a ‘walker’. Choosing this moniker will keep in you good strides with your future you. It will also put you in good company with the walk-first movement (we’re trying to pun this one, too).

P.S. - It’s been reported that Corporate Housing companies help people walk rather than drive because our locations are near many walkable work locations, which makes our guests feel like they’re walking on easy street. And with all that money our guests save by walking, their future thems will be able to chip in when their future them’s friends didn’t heed this advice and hit them up for future gas money.  

P.P.S. Gait Giveaway! It's not just about walking, but it's also about HOW you walk (rather than drive) that shapes your identity. Gait recognition software has become an increasingly easy way to become an ID. A recent gait technology provider boasts a 94% accuracy rate matching a person with their stride. Your walk is now akin to wearing a personal license plate, so maybe one day you could get a ticket in the mail for jay-walking? 

This series is focused on Simple Sustainable Actions - based on Stephane Omsanski’s article in Parade from 2021.

https://parade.com/1300935/stephanieosmanski/ways-reduce-carbon-emissions/

20. Walk rather than Drive

Of course, safety first! But whenever it's possible, choosing to walk somewhere overdriving is a more sustainable alternative. Our bodies aren't half as gas-guzzling as cars are and though we have a carbon footprint, too, it's nothing compared to driving a vehicle.