Humans have been active pedestrians for centuries-why stop now?
The first humans walked out of the cradle of civilization somewhere in Africa about 60,000 years ago. They walked to Europe and Asia. They walked across long-gone land bridges of ice and sand to reach tiny Pacific islands and the Americas.
They walked and ran to catch prey, walked to exotic civilizations to trade goods, and walked from the centers of vast empires to the outer reaches to wage wars.
Then they stopped walking.
With the largest incoming freshman class to date and a record number of resident students this semester, USF St. Petersburg is quickly turning from its roots as a “drive-to U” as students make St. Petersburg their home.
The influx of students comes with an efflux of parking spaces. To avoid screaming into dashboards this semester, it might be a good time to leave the cars at home and—making like our pedestrian ancestors—actively commute to school.
Active commutes include walking, as well as biking, skating and any other non-automotive means of transportation. Environmental, physical and mental benefits of walking and biking are typically clear to many.
“Strange as it seems, though, modern man appears determined to walk as little as possible,” the Harvard Medical School reported in a 2009 health publication.
The journal reported that elevators, escalators and moving-walkways only deepen the dread of walking.
“If the Segway ‘walking’ machine ever catches on, walking will suffer yet another setback,” it reads.
In 2011, the Federal Department of Transportation reported on commuting trends and conditions in Florida. Its report was based on a survey of 100,820 households and 7,417 people living in college residential halls and other group living quarters.
Results showed nearly 80 percent of commuters drive alone in Florida; only 2.8 percent were active commuters.
Starting an active commute could be a benefit, said the New Economics Foundation, a British think-tank working in areas of community, democracy and economics in a 2011 report.
“Studies comparing the experiences of commuting by bicycle and car report that cyclists find their mode of transport at least as flexible and convenient as those who use cars, with lower stress, greater feelings of freedom, relaxation and excitement,” it reads.
Dealing with parking meters or the parking garage weekday mornings can be stressful and time-consuming. Instead of spending time and energy hounding a parking space or digging for parking meter change, a stroll or ride to class can benefit students in the classroom and throughout the day with increased circulation and focus.
Students perform in the classroom better when they’re physically active during the day, according to research conducted by the American College of Sports Medicine.
Walking also helps digestion, mental stress, depression and reduces cardiac disease risk factors.
For those in St. Petersburg—which though hot and humid is flat and, in many places, beautiful—who want to track their walks, 12 average city blocks count as one mile.
For those whose commute is too long, there are other ways to increase walking time. The Harvard report suggests parking further from destinations and enjoying the walk.
Now, too, is a good time to take advantage of the stairwell in the University Student Center, which has an almost 360 degree view over one of the most beautiful parts of St. Petersburg.
