Council staff get a ticket to stride
Issued by City of York Council
City of York Council employees are swapping cars, buses and trains for a ticket to stride this Walk to Work Week.
National Walk to Work Week (13-17 May) is an opportunity for employees across the UK to make walking part of their commute as part of National Walking Month. To celebrate the many benefits of walking and, in line with its commitment to health and wellbeing, City of York Council is encouraging as many of its staff as possible to take part for the good of their health, for fun and to help the environment.
Councillor Sonja Crisp, City of York Council’s Cabinet Member for Leisure, Culture and Tourism said: “Participants can log their walks on the Living Streets website, and see calories burnt, CO2 saved and compete against colleagues. Last year the UK public collectively totted up 128,271 miles – that’s 146.76 times between Land’s End and John O’Groats, with workplaces registering 70,000 miles during Walk to Work Week!
“This year, City of York Council and NHS Trust staff in York will be challenging each other to see which organisations staff can notch up as many miles as possible.”
Walking for just half an hour each day can transform fitness levels, reduce stress, and vastly improve concentration levels for the day ahead. Physically active employees are also less likely to suffer from major health problems, less likely to take sickness leave and less likely to have an accident at work.
Living Streets, supported by City of York Council as part of its i-Travel scheme, aims to encourage people to incorporate walking into their daily routine and support them with tips, advice and motivation. In York, information on sustainable journeys, including an urban walking route planner, is available from the i-Travel website.
Tony Armstrong, Chief Executive of Living Streets said: “Whether it’s walking all or part of the journey to work, stepping out of the office for a lunchtime walk, or getting off the bus a few stops earlier on your way home, walking is a free and easy way to work more exercise into your daily routine.
“Logging your walks on www.livingstreets.org.uk during Walk to Work Week is a great way to get started!”
For further information about Walk to Work Week contact Fiona Barker, Active Living Officer at City of York Council on 01904 555720 or send Fiona an email.
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