Walking is literally rewarding
Visitors and residents earned freebies and discounts on 18 May by taking part in ‘Walking is Rewarding’, an event aimed at getting more people to step-up to a healthy walking routine.
Hackney Council teamed up with 10 cafes and shops across the borough to provide rewards such as a free drink or a piece of fruit.
One of the businesses who took part was Black Box coffee in Hackney Central, Ben Murtagh who runs the coffee shop said: "We had a super positive response. Despite the dull weather one customer walked all the way from Walthamstow!"
There was a great response from walkers, with some taking to social media to tweet pictures of their well-earned coffees and Instagram their walks through Hackney’s beautiful parks.
Even the rain didn’t stop people getting out and about to take part, with one mother tweeting a walking to school haiku poem: “School Walk, falling rain, drops on noses, pavement splots, bright macs cheer a grey day.”
Participating schools saw a dramatic increase in pupils walking to school on the day, with one school recording a massive 614% increase in pupils walking to school on the day.
Year 5 teacher Seydul Alam from Al Falah Primary school said: it was absolutely fantastic to be part of the walking campaign as this encouraged pupils, parents and staff to walk to school. The free breakfast also motivated parents to walk with their children and enjoy a lovely morning".
It’s great to see so many people getting involved and walking their way across Hackney. I am really grateful to our partners for offering some fantastic incentives on the day. Walking can improve fitness, help clear your head and provide social time with children, friends and colleagues. Whether it’s a getting off the bus a stop early or taking a 2 mile walk from your home to work. I hope this day can encourage more people to incorporate walking into their daily routine.
Physically active people are less likely to suffer major health problems and less likely to need time off school or work for sickness. To help plan your walk visit Walkit.com for help planning walking routes. The journey planner offers a variety of routes, time taken, calories burned, CO2 saved and even the weather forecast. Find information about walking in Hackney at www.hackney.gov.uk/walking
‘Walking is Rewarding’ day is part of the Council’s wider ambitions to get more people walking and cycling more often, which also includes the Walk Once a Week (WOW) scheme. Since 2007 the number of pupils walking to school has increased by 4.14% to 62.03% and Hackney has the highest levels of residents cycling to work in London.