"Beyond mobility, walking plays an essential role in supporting physical and mental health. Research shows that it lowers the risk of chronic conditions such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and obesity, while also boosting mental well-being by reducing stress, lifting one's mood, and enhancing creativity. If walking offers so many benefits, why, especially in America, is it not a more common part of daily life?"
"At any given moment, the brain is processing 30 to 40 different data points. To manage this complexity, it relies on shortcuts - sometimes referred to as prejudices - to make sense of the environment. This process, known as "chunking," allows people to break tasks or surroundings into smaller, more manageable pieces. When walking, the brain uses visual and physical cues to quickly assess whether a journey feels safe, stimulating, and worth continuing."
Walking is the most fundamental form of transportation and most trips begin and end on foot. Walking supports physical health by lowering risks of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and obesity, and supports mental well-being by reducing stress, improving mood, and enhancing creativity. Many American urban environments underutilize walking due to poor infrastructure and car-centric planning that created sprawling suburbs, highways, and large parking areas. Lack of sidewalks and uninviting public spaces make walking feel unsafe, inconvenient, or unappealing. The brain processes dozens of data points and uses 'chunking' shortcuts to judge environments quickly. Visual and physical cues such as shop windows, park benches, and street art make walks more engaging and reduce perceived risk.
Read at Streetsblog
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