An article at Canada.com touts the health and cash saving benefits of turning to walking as an alternative to driving. Author Helen Vanderburg mentions the muscle groups that get worked during walking – legs, buttocks and lower back – and reminds us that we can walk to accomplish daily tasks that are located near our homes and offices and get fit in the process. She recommends buying a pedometer (they cost as little as $5 and increase depending on the features you want) and setting a goal for 10,000 steps a day.

The 10,000 Step Challenge is a popular one these days, as people strap on pedometers in the morning and try to add in extra steps wherever they can to make their goal of 10,000 steps. The idea is to think of it in terms of meeting the numerical goal and not concentrating so much on sweating, burning calories or getting in shape. If you walk to the post office instead of drive, maybe there’s an extra 500 steps. If you take the stairs instead of the elevator, extra steps to you. Same goes for parking at the end of the lot instead of grabbing the closest space or taking a stroll at lunch time to grab something to eat. The push behind this kind of challenge came as a response to the obesity crisis, but today, it can work double duty, helping you save money on gas and keep some pollution from the air.