Has the lockdown reacquainted you with the joy of walking?
Yea and its been such great weather to be heading over to the beach and reconnecting with nature and the sea
What differences have you noticed on your local streets during this time?
Lots more families out and about together enjoying each others company and connecting from a distance with those community members in their bubble!
How are you keeping your daily exercise interesting?
By listening to music and making an effort to smile and say good morning to every person I pass on my walk or run or bike
Dawn
I walk most days for an hour - a good route which includes a good hill, lovely views of Auckland, Hobsonville, Greenhithe bush, Rangitoto Island and Hauraki Gulf. Very little traffic which allows the required distance between walkers. Also not traffic fumes!! Other walkers are friendly while keeping good distance. A lot of families out walking also.
Thanks Beryl
I have seen a negative impact on walking around my neighbourhood since the lockdown:
Poor / negative behaviour from some people eg. refusing to keep a 2m social distance when walking towards me and others
An increased amount of dog excrement not being picked up
More litter around the neighbourhood
What I am really pleased to see is a very positive attitude from drivers towards more walkers on the streets and footpaths; more consideration for people having to walk off the berm and into the kerbside to avoid other walkers.
I have been walking every day for years so I’m not walking more often but it’s definitely a different and less enjoyable environment since the lockdown.
Thanks, Suzanne
Been discovering lost or under-utilised corners in neighbourhood, like the over grown car park of the closed pub. A perfect space for families to walk to, plat ball games, gather. Put in some benches and planter boxes, hey presto, another community walkable catch-up zone.
Kā mihi nui, nā Kuini
I have always walked in and around the central city of Wellington as I live there and worked there until retirement. Walking is how I am fortunate able to undertake most of my exercise and do the things I need to do. My experience of walking in the city over recent years has been that it is less and less safe and enjoyable due to cyclists using the footpaths and riding in inconsiderate manner (speeding, passing with little or no space,lack of lights and warming bells) on areas where pedestrians and bikes are both permitted.
During lockdown it is clear a lot more people are walking as it is one of the few permitted activities. On the whole pedestrians are considerate, runners joggers and cyclists less so. I have had to alter some of my usual walking routes due to the increased numbers of walkers, joggers and cyclists during lockdown, as it becomes less enjoyable to walk when you constantly have to be on the lookout for who is coming towards you so you can make space, and thinking about joggers and cyclists coming up from behind you.
Regards, and keep up the great work Living Streets Aotearoa! Cathy
It’s been absolutely wonderful, but importantly it has actually been a big community building thing for us. We live in a subdivision next to a large sports park, and at any given time there are people there walking. Neighbours are saying hello and talking with each other (social distancing of course). Who would have thought such an experience, facilitated by walking, would bring us all closer together in a way
Shane