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Fenton, a champion race walker and walking expert, said walking is natural and part of our evolutionary heritage. You don’t need any equipment or special place, and you don’t have to join a class or become part of team to do it.
“For a lot of people, walking is the perfect starting point, and it overcomes barriers — no time for class, money and lack of motivation,” Fenton said. “And you can fit it in during your regular day.”
The local Pioneering Healthier Communities Team is bringing Fenton to La Crosse on Oct. 21 and 22. Fenton will help community and business leaders develop policies and practices to encourage more walking and biking. Two days of sessions include a town hall meeting.
Fenton, host of the PBS series, “America’s Walking,” said most people can’t use the excuse that they don’t have time to walk because they can build it into their daily life.
People can walk at work and at home when they need to make short trips, he said. He suggests that people first try to eliminate one automobile trip a week.
“When you need to go somewhere a half-mile away, walk,” Fenton said. “Start doing that once a week.”
Fenton said walking as little as 30 minutes, five days a week can help reduce the risk of chronic disease and cancer as well as provide improved mental and physical well-being.
“That’s the good news, but the bad news is only a quarter of us get that physical activity,” he said. “We’re in pretty bad shape.”
Fenton said if communities are more walkable, then people tend to walk more.
“If we work, live, shop and go to school in close proximity, then we’re going to walk,” he said. “If we have sidewalks, bike paths and bike lanes on streets, then we will walk and bike.”
For example, instead of constructing four lanes, make three lanes and bike lane, Fenton said.
He said communities can change zoning codes to encourage development of neighborhood stores. Setting up more bike racks in communities promotes biking.
“External and environmental factors can make a big difference,” Fenton said. “It has worked for reducing smoking rates.
“I want to help change the environment so behavior changes,” he said.
