April's walking holidays encourage healthy habits

News Article
The sun is out, April is just around the corner, and with it comes plenty of excuses to get out and walk!
Published
Updated
In this article

(March 31, 2016) Lace up your walking shoes and celebrate National Walk to Work Day on Friday, April 1. Walk to Work Day is an unofficial holiday observed on the first Friday of April. Years of medical research has shown that walking is one of the best ways to stay healthy and keep your body in shape. If you are unable to walk the whole way to work, take public transportation instead and then walk from the bus or train stop to your workplace.

walkers at union station

April 6 brings National Walking Day! National Walking Day is observed on the first Wednesday of the month and is a call-to-action for everyone to adopt healthy habits for an active lifestyle. Join coworkers, classmates, family, and friends – even the four legged kind – in taking the first step to becoming more active and pledge to take a walk toward better health.

And finally, National Walk@Lunch Day happens on Wednesday, April 27. Invite your coworkers or classmates to join you for a walk at lunch and help encourage a new daily walking routine that will improve your health step by step.

We encourage you to find ways to replace just a few driving trips per week with a walking trip. Walking is one of the easiest, most effective activities you can do to improve your health. The American Heart Association recommends 30 minutes of walking a day – and it doesn’t all have to be at once. By walking to your neighborhood grocery store, coffee shop, school, park, bus stop, or even a friend’s house, you’ll be on your way to a healthier lifestyle, a healthier community and a healthier you!

If you’d like some inspiration for your next walk, check out PBOT’s series of Neighborhood Bike/Walk Maps. You’ll find public art, local parks, heritage trees and other attractions listed – plus every school and library in your area, grocery stores and water fountains, and even all the bus stops. And beginning in May, hop aboard the Ten Toe Express, which are our series of guided walks that show off great Portland neighborhoods at a comfortable pace.