New Zealanders Take to the Streets

New Zealanders Take to the Streets

Thousands of New Zealanders took to the streets on Wednesday and realise the huge health benefits of walking and catching public transport to work or school. Walk2Work Day 11 March recognises these significant benefits by celebrating the walk and public transport journey too.

People who commute by bus, train or ferry, get on average over three times the exercise of those in a car. And bus and trains are the safest way to get around.

In Wellington alone over 18,000 people will walk all the way to work, and walking is a part of every public transport journey – a further 17,000 Wellingtonians will commute by bus or train. Recent Statistics New Zealand analysis showed commuting patterns around the country with walking in Wellington increasing.

Lower Hutt Mayor Ray Wallace gets into the spirit with a bus ride from Wainuiomata and a walk to the council offices. Waterloo Station commuters will have received their free walk maps showing how quickly they can walk to the station, and there will be an apple for train commuters at Wellington railway station.

Wellington’s mayor has a downhill walk from near the Cable Car to the free walkers’ breakfast by the bus on the waterfront. Other walk tours are leaving from Newtown, Botanic Gardens, Normanby, Trelissick Park and central Wellington. Karori mall and Kilbirnie bus users will be in for a dramatic treat as they are cheered on for their good travel choices.

Coastlands mall hosts a health check stall during the day.

There’s more stepping out to do in Wellington as the day progresses with Park(ing) spots re-imagined around Wellington and Murder and Mayhem at the Bolton St cemetery in the evening.

Living Streets Aotearoa started the annual Walk2Work day in 2009 to promote walking, its health benefits, and its priority position in sustainable transport. On Wednesday people nation-wide are encouraged to give walking, or walking and taking public transport, a go.

There are events happening in Auckland and Wellington regions, and targeted events in Palmerston North and in Christchurch. Wherever you are you can give walking a go.

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