As the government considers legalising e-scooters, pedestrians raise more concerns.

A new survey suggests that e-scooters a bigger barrier to walking than traffic.

Walk this way

The survey comes at the beginning of National Walking Month. It is organised by Living Streets every May. This year it is encouraging everyone to walk for 20 minutes each day for exercise or leisure. Their research suggest that this is currently achieved by only 68% of people.

Our sedentary lifestyle, based around office work, cars and home entertainment, is the main culprit. It links directly to many health issues, both physical and mental. Not only that, our dependance on motorised transport is harming the environment too.

Alternative transport

The survey also found that 22% of people admit to never walking for exercise or leisure at all. Furthermore, nearly half (46%) never walk to or for work.

According to the survey, the biggest motivators for people to walk are fresh air (46%), to maintain fitness and physical health (36%) and to improve mental health and wellbeing (35%).

Other reasons for walking including to lose weight (29%), to connect with nature (21%) and to exercise a pet (19%).

People find the biggest barriers to walking to be bad weather (50%). However,  concerns about not feeling safe walking alone is cited by 19%. Other reasons for not walking include not having time (16%), concerns about e-scooters (11%), air pollution (11%) and traffic (10%).

Before you crawl

Stephen Edwards, chief executive of Living Streets, said: “It is encouraging that two thirds of us walk for at least 20 minutes a day.

“But it is very concerning that so many people never walk for exercise or leisure at all,” adds Stephen. “Walking is a great way to exercise and socialise at the same time. Active people report higher levels of mental wellbeing and are more likely to be satisfied with their life, feel happier and less anxious – and walking together can reduce feelings of loneliness and isolation.”