Fewer and fewer peoplewalk on a daily basis. What are the reasons and how to encourage them to spend their time walking?

In modern life, many

people

have lost the habit of walking regularly. While there are various reasons for

this

trend, some measures can be implemented to encourage

people

to take up walking as part of their daily routine. There are two main reasons, in my opinion, why fewer

people

walk regularly nowadays.

Firstly

, the development of technology has discouraged some

people

from walking. Escalators and lifts have appeared everywhere in most towns and cities, especially in shopping centres and offices. They are, admittedly, convenient and time-saving but they

also

encourage laziness.

Secondly

, as part of our modern lifestyle, so many journeys are made by car.

For example

, parents now often drop off and pick up their children at the

school

gate, even if the

school

is near their home.

This

is understandable in one sense, as parents worry about the safety of their children, especially if there are busy main roads to cross to get to

school

. There are measures which could be implemented to encourage

people

to walk more often. In low-rise buildings, the use of the stairs should be obligatory, with a lift only for disabled

people

. In order to dissuade

people

from using their cars unnecessarily, no-stopping zones ought to be established in the vicinity of schools. If children become accustomed to the habit of the daily walk to

school

,

then

responsible parents would need to accompany them. The whole family would

thus

get used to regular walking exercise. As another measure, pavements should be improved and more pedestrian-only zones established in city centres. Covered walkways and more trees could provide relief from rain and sun in

such

zones. In conclusion, some reasons why

people

are walking less regularly can be identified, and some simple solutions should be adopted to encourage them to walk more frequently.