Road construction may be good for your health
Spring is upon us, and with the chirping of birds, late sunsets and the — at times — warmer breezes, construction season has already reared its ugly head.
By this I don’t mean to diminish the vitamin D-induced cheerfulness you seem to be acquiring, or to belittle the slight spring in your step — in fact I plan to do quite the opposite.
But before I go any further, let’s talk a little about your outdoor exercise schedule.
You know, the one you contemplated all through the cold, dark winter months.
Maybe it’s already gone up on your fridge and serves to energize you.
Perhaps you’ve even persuaded others to accompany you on this journey to better health.
However, although some warm days have passed, you seem to lack the needed motivation to com- mence this schedule, and you’ve instead resolved to wait for more ideal weather patterns.
As you may be well aware, light rail transit construction has begun, and for downtown Kitchener, this translates into detours galore. This may be the biggest construction project of the season, however, it is unlikely to be the only one, meaning if your work, school or even leisurely commutes have not been affected thus far, they most likely will be in the coming weeks and months.
Don’t fret just yet, because an untapped source of much-needed motivation lies just outside your threshold: the pairing of springlike weather and the detourinduced decrease in accessibility. In fact, this pairing can prove beneficial to both your health and the environment.
Seeing as sidewalks are usually not affected by construction work, they allow for walking/wheeling/ rollerblading to be viable backup options to cars and buses.
Not only does sidewalk use serve as light exercise (you can set your own pace), it can also help reduce morning stress and boost vitamin D levels. There is lower harmful UV ray exposure in the morning.
If you have little ones and are worried about their safety as they brave the sidewalks alone, consider the “walking school bus.” This is where children are picked up from their homes and walk together with the help of a few, alternating, parent volunteers. An added advantage is that by learning where their friends live, children will be encouraged to partake in after-school outdoor activities with their newly discovered neighbours and spend less time on TV.
If, however, you feel strongly connected to the blue seats and yellow stop-request cords of transit buses, consider the perks of learning the directions of all or part of your route when you use the sidewalk. You may need to ask for directions or consult your handy smartphone at the start (no one will know I’m lost!), but soon, you might be giving directions yourself.
Slowing down our commutes can also serve an ulterior motive by helping us better appreciate our beautiful city.
We can start identifying familiar faces on their way to work, and by extension, meet new people. We can save money commuting and spend it on hidden gems, such as the spinach and feta pastry at that local café near work; and we can cut down on our carbon dioxide emissions and, instead, breathe in cool and crisp morning air. And if nothing else, we can at least cultivate an appreciation for our vehicle of choice.
We are at the beginning of spring and some snow banks are still in sight, but if we consider an alternate commuting method, just for one day each week, we may find it provides us with the rejuvenation that we need to transition into summer.
The outdoors is provided to us free of charge, so why should the clocks be the only ones that spring forward?