Hardly anybody walks to work any more. Yet it's one of the single best lifestyle changes (after quitting smoking) you could possibly make. The benefits are not only fresh air and exercise - important though they are.
The Stupid Planning System
Since the last War, town planners have repeated many times over the destruction wrought by the Luftwaffe.
Towns have become dormitories, with less and less green space and longer and longer journeys to work. Virtually everybody commutes, because it's pretty much impossible now to build a light industrial premises anywhere near residential areas.
Wind the clock back a few years and more or less everyone walked or cycled to work.
It's a lifestyle change that has already affected the physical and spiritual health of two generations.
The obvious reasons you should walk to work
Save money - not only do you spend less on petrol or train fares, you spend fewer total hours earning the same amount of money.
Never be late - your journey will be far more reliable than anyone else's.
Get more exercise - a small amount of exercise twice a day adds up to a significant amount - more, probably than you would take as part of organised training.
Reduce the amount of traffic on the roads - which in turn means the roads need less maintenance and are less congested.
Which in turn makes it easier for others to cycle if they live too far away to walk but close enough to cycle - in other words you are contributing to others improving their own lifestyles.
...and reduces pollution - road pollution is enormously important. Why bother about car sharing schemes? They have virtually no impact. Build workplaces close to where people live and take car use totally out of the equation. Not only is road pollution important in global warming, it also affects health because the pollution is where people are.
...and energy consumption which improves our energy security and gives us more years of remaining oil.
Save gym membership... - why bother belonging to a gym if you already take half an hours exercise twice a day? You could jog to work, or take physical exercise on the way.
...and transportation costs to the gym - usually, we drive to the gym.
20 mins there and 20 mins back, plus changing time, plus an hour in the gym, means an hour's exercise (less standing around time) for an investment of 2 hours' time and £10 petrol.
Spend your gym money on something else such as saving up for active holiday or a new tennis racket. In other words, gym membership has opportunity costs in time and money.
Every benefit is a double benefit. (Law of Double Benefit)
The most important reason to walk to work
Instead of sitting in traffic every morning, which is expensive and stressful, you get to take exercise in the fresh air, which is free and relaxing. There is virtually no incremental time cost because traffic in rush hour is painfully slow.
How to walk to work
1. Choose a job which is close to your home, or move home. This is a defining decision.
2. Or set up a small business and work from home.
3. Keep a set of clean dry clothes and a towel at work, so that if it rains you don't need to worry about getting a drenching.
4. Persuade your boss to install showers and hair dryers, if you don't already have them. (the cyclists will be your allies here).
5. Make sure you have time in hand in case you need to shower and change after you arrive.
6. But remember, you will never again have to worry about the traffic being bad. Your journey will take almost exactly the same amount of time every day.
7. Keep a car or bike at work if you need one in your work. Speak to the boss about garaging it at work overnight.