How far do you walk?

[secondfavouritesocks]

I've been deeply shocked at some of the expectations on threads recently, that a child can't manage a couple of miles to school, etc, when in my day we all did it, without exception.

I do think that younger generations are incredibly out of the habit of walking, and missing out on so many benefits, social, physical health, mental health, enjoyment, being in touch with your environment, etc. Walking home together was a daily social event at my school, we walked around 3 miles home from primary, and maybe 3.5 miles from secondary.

My own children went to a school 4 miles away, and there was a bus, but they mostly preferred to walk, and are all fit, healthy young adults now who regularly do sport, as in team games a couple of times a week ( in their mid/late 20s)

I walked 7 miles to school during the pandemic, as our school didn't want staff on public transport, and we all had to sign to agree the policy to avoid public transport as far as was reasonable - this was not a problem, I enjoyed it

I have cancer now, and cant do as much, but still enjoy walking the 7 miles home at least once a week, instead of getting the bus - highly recommended by oncologist

A week or two ago at school I witnessed a school boy being challenged on his lateness, and he had a complete temper tantrum at the suggestion that he could walk to his train station while his usual bus was on diversion. It was less than a mile and a half, he was totally outraged at the suggestion.

AIBU to say that walking regularly is life enhancing, and the current generation are really missing out, and it is a habit that needs to be built up, and encouraged, rather than avoided?

I cinsider myself quite fit, I run 4 times a week and walk every day, but I'm not sure that walking 10 miles a day or similar is really compatible with most people's lifestyle.
I am the first to admit I am a bit lazy and do drive to town sometimes, when I could walk but often driving is necessary because people haven't got time between commitments to walk 4 miles! Not always because they are lazy or unfit

@secondfavouritesocks it's true it can take longer on the bus so I would check times. Recently, I had a doctor's appointment at 8:30am, 50 minutes from my place of work on foot. I weighed up getting the bus so I didn't miss too much work (I usually start at 8:30) but honestly, walking was quicker when factoring in waiting for bus, etc, so I walked.

It does surprise me the number of people who can't manage a short walk purely because they never do it.
Some years ago, I worked about 10 minutes walk from my house. When there was that petrol crisis, someone I worked with who lived about 5 minutes from me walked with me. We had to stop every few minutes. She didn't have any health conditions, she just never walked. Anywhere. I was genuinely shocked.
But to be fair, I don't drive because when I tried to learn, I struggled too much. I am not the brightest star in the firmament, to be fair, and always felt such a dumb cluck for being unable to do it. If I did drive, I probably wouldn't be much better than the person I mentioned, to be honest.

I dont mind the weather generally, just wrap up

thats a lovely suggestion, thank you for taking the time to suggest it, I cant cycle for medical reasons - loss of strength and range of movement in my arms after mastectomy.

It is a good idea for other people though.

Just to say OP, even though I think you are being a bit extreme... many people are too reliant on cars.

My Dds irst school was a 12 minute walk. We frequently beat our neighbours who drove when leaving the houses at the sane time, once you factored in traffic and parking.

I'm very sorry to hear that, OP.

being able to drive is based on 3d perception and proprioception - not related to intelligence at all! Dont be so mean to yourself! you sound lovely and perfectly intelligent

I walk a long way through choice, often for leisure.

I also walked around 2 miles to school when younger and 2 back and we cycled a lot as a family. My son chooses to walk to school which is the same distance, as he hates the bus and we have spoken about how walking is a gift - the nature (we live semi rurally even though close to London), seeing the seasons change, hearing the bird song, being alone with your thoughts, being able to expel some energy easily etc, and he enjoys it too.

my youngest are smaller so we need a destination at the end which is fine at the moment. I’ve tried hard to instil some sedate activity in their lives as my DH and his family will not even walk to the shop opposite their house. They consider half a mile to be a long walk.

I think you meant to quote @Utterbunkum
I do drive more frequently than I should

I think if you have young kids/caring responsibilities it can be difficult but otherwise you can usually make the time if you want to. I work full time and have a teenager and can definitely fit in a decent amount of walking in the day

This thread is in danger of turning into a Four Yorkshiremen thread.

For the record DD walked to pre-school a mile away and to primary school, but her secondary school was 5 miles away along winding country lanes with no pavements. She took the bus to school.

I think the main issue these days is time, as PP have already mentioned. To walk 2 miles each way with a child who isn't old enough to walk to school alone when you are working full time takes quite a chunk of time out of the working day.

probably! sorry

I don't. WFH and walk probably less than 4000 steps a day if that
I do exercise in other ways, but not walking

We all walk everywhere. We don;t have a car and live in London. I love walking.

I wish I could walk more- my phone has set an arbitrary limit of 6000 steps a day- about 3 miles, which I don't reach more often than not. Although I've realised that I do if I walk back from my studio to home for lunch - so 2 10 minute walks to the studio and back- so will try and build my work day around that. I do try and do big hikes (up to 15 miles) on my child free weekends though.

I just don't get people who can't walk short distances where it's clearly more convenient though. Roads are so busy and parking so difficult in some spots nowadays- why would you put yourself through that? I live in Cornwall and always say it's a great place to visit if you're prepared to park a little way away and walk the last mile to that picturesque village centre or honeypot beach that you and the rest of the planet wants to visit.

Like the others I don’t really have time to walk more than 30minutes between home & work or children’s activities. I do often cycle when it’s 3+ miles but if I’ve dot dss with me we’ll drive.

I do about 6 miles a day on a non-busy day. Up to 10 if I'm busy.
I like walking, I've always walked everywhere I can.

@secondfavouritesocks I guessed that was meant for me. Thank you, though I always felt it was a personal failing that I couldn't manage to do something so many people do all the time.
I guess what I wanted to say was that, whilst I am happy walking, it is out of necessity, unlike many commenting, and maybe l am being unfair to comment on other people's overuse of cars when, in my case, I might well have done the same had I mastered the art.
Mind you, my DH doesn't drive, hasn't ever even wanted to learn, but I am sure he could. We save a fortune by not having a car, but it is limiting. We can't live anywhere too rural, which is a shame since I grew up in a remote village and loved it. If we hadn't moved when I was 16, I would have been in trouble as there was very little public transport.
But it IS great to not be dying after 5 minutes of walking, and I do enjoy it. I also like going on trains when we need to travel any distance.

I had an appointment in a nearby town with a one way system that I hate. I parked in a shopping centre carpark on the edge of town and walked a mile to the apt - it was way less stressful albeit quite a horrible area to walk through

I absolutely love walking. It was a god send for my mental health when I was on Mat leave with twins. Every day without fail at nap times I would have them in the buggy and out walking till they woke up.
I would download movies and box sets on my phone and watch them while walking the same route every day for up to 2 hours. In a weird sense those nap times while walking was my only bit of "me" time
Have kept up walking now I'm back at work and walk on my lunch and also have a walking pad for my house when wfh though nothing beats an outdoor walk
Hit 15k+ steps every day without fail.

I agree that the car centrerd infrastructure doesn't help.

if there were secure bike paths lots of teens would probably chose to cycle over taking a bus as the route is usually more direct and faster.

The original 10k figure was made up, but a recent study shows that health benefits are demonstrable from around 4k steps a day and increase as you do more steps, with the biggest impact between 7k and 13k steps for people below 60.

https://www.theguardian.com/society/2023/aug/09/revealed-walking-just-4000-steps-a-day-can-reduce-risk-of-dying

School staff who had time to spend 4+ hours a day walking in all weathers? WTAF.

Oh wait, I forget this is MN where people can lazily slowly stroll and still walk at a speed of 6-7mph. Or maybe it's 16-17mph barely shuffling their feet forward at all. Who knows.

DS (15) has friend whose family lives < 300m from the school main visitor carpark, in a quiet sleepy lots of pavement town. Nobody in the family is disabled. They drive to attend evening school events, their DD is not allowed to walk alone off school premises after dark. Doesn't matter what I or you all think. They are the normal, not this thread.

I can’t drive so I walk a lot. I remember a few years ago when I had a regular mental health appointment that the psychotherapist was really surprised that I walked there. “That must take, what, half an hour?” she said. I didn’t think half an hour was very long to walk for?!