Piétons Québec invites people to walk

In Quebec, one person in five lives within walking distance of their work, less than three kilometres. In some cities, the proportion is much higher: this is the case in Sept-Îles (52%), Matane (49%) and Dolbeau-Mistassini (57%).

Nicolas Berube
The Press

However, many Quebecers have the reflex of driving for short distances. The modal share of the car for trips of less than three kilometers is 63.6%, which represents nearly two out of three people, according to Statistics Canada.

“Walking is a credible and viable avenue over short distances. Plus, it’s efficient and free, says Katia Lesiack, project coordinator at Piétons Québec. Unfortunately, we often miss opportunities to walk. »

To mark International Walking Month, which takes place in October, Piétons Québec has just launched its national campaign All Pedestrians! under the theme “Show your beautiful gait”.

The campaign promotes the benefits of walking for daily commuting, including improved physical and mental health, and gives those who practice it the opportunity to see their neighborhood and its residents in a new light.

For a healthy adult, a three kilometer walk can take about 35 minutes, or even less if you walk at a brisk pace.

The campaign spokesperson is columnist and author Olivier Niquet, who says he walks about 20 minutes a day morning and evening to and from work, in addition to taking the metro.

On this subject, the aim of the campaign is also to make decision-makers aware of taking walking into account in their urban development, underlines the man who studied town planning at university.

“I feel a change. We elected some very dynamic mayors recently. Last summer, I hosted a documentary series on the links between health and urban planning, and I met people who work in those municipalities. Of course, they are stuck with certain infrastructures that tie their hands, but they all have that in mind,” he said.

One of the keys is to have good infrastructure that makes you want to walk, explains Katia Lesiack. “We invite the municipalities of Quebec to show their beautiful approaches and to create living environments that are more favorable to walking, more pleasant to walk. »

Public health issue

According to the National Institute of Public Health of Quebec (INSPQ), “the low use of active transportation contributes to the negative impacts of a sedentary lifestyle, particularly with regard to the high proportion of people who are overweight”.

The INSPQ has estimated that each hour spent in the car is associated with a 6% increase in the risk of obesity, while each kilometer traveled on foot is associated with a 5% reduction in the risk of overweight.

In Quebec, a sedentary lifestyle and lack of physical activity affect approximately one out of two adults.

Among children, physical inactivity has also worsened in recent years. The percentage of children meeting the recommendations for moderate-to-vigorous physical activity of 60 minutes a day has increased from 39% before the pandemic to 28% during it, according to the latest Report Card. physical activity among children and young people from Participaction.

Messages from the All Pedestrians! will be broadcast on social networks and on the web, in addition to being supplemented by activities in certain participating municipalities on October 23.