Walking is not only good for you, it helps the environment. Here are some ideas how you can make downtown Tampa a healthier place to live and work:

1. Walk to Work: Many of us live too far away to travel the whole distance under our physical power, but we can start parking further away from our offices. Parking places on the perimeter of downtown are often cheaper. If you park in a lot, park on the far end.
2. Try alternative transportation to get to work: cycling, walking, car-pooling, taking public transport, tele-working. On average, for each gallon of fuel burnt in a car engine, more than 5 lbs. of CO2 is released.
3. Try to avoid short car journeys because fuel consumption and CO2 emissions are disproportionately higher when the engine is still cold. Research shows that one in two urban car journeys is for less than three miles - a distance that can be easily cycled or walked.
4. Save money on gas and give a boost to your health by walking when you only have to go a short distance. It may not sound revolutionary, but it's easy to forget to use our own two feet in our hectic, car-focused culture. Next time you need some eggs or ice cream, or want to catch a movie, ask yourself if you can walk there, instead of starting up that car. The planet, and your health, will thank you.
5. Pick up refuse as you walk. No, we’re not asking you to do anything unsanitary, but if you see a can or box or bottle just sitting around, help us keep things clean by tossing it in a handy trash can. Also, please report major messes to the city by calling the Tampa Downtown Guide Patrol at 813-267-2220.

   Walking greatly decreases your carbon footprint (duh), and helps clear the air of smog-forming pollutants. It also is good exercise — something many of us are in dire need of, considering that a new CDC report concluded that more than 25% of Americans are obese.

   The good news is more and more cities are starting to wake up to the many values of walking and are finally starting to design things to be more pedestrian friendly (in Europe they've known this for generations). Areas with high foot traffic often are the most vibrant, interesting parts of town, and high gas and land prices are encouraging people to give another look at more densely settled parts of town (good news for the burgeoning New Urbanism movement).

   Tampa is working to advance it’s position among the great cities to walk. It’s our goal to make our mark on national registries (like Prevention Magazine’s Top cities to Walk, or WalkScore’s website.) But doing this is a goal we must share with you. Vote for good urban planning. Walk our downtown and participate in discussions about how we can improve it. You can begin by filling our Urban Walking Assessment for each of the routes we’ve planned. Remember: if you want something to count, then you have to stand up and be counted.