Put your car keys away and forget about your travel pass-it's time to do a bit of walking. National Walking Month is organized every May by Living Streets, an organization that campaigns for the rights and the needs of pedestrians, so the organization is previously known as the Pedestrians' Association. The association's aim is to make streets safe, attractive and enjoyable spaces for people to live, work, shop and play. By putting people (rather than vehicles) first, Living Streets wants to create streets and spaces where people feel happier, healthier and more sociable.
The annual campaign gives participants a great opportunity to experience the many virtues of walking. These include the physical health benefits of becoming fitter, he environmental advantages of not using vehicles: the delight of local discoveries-seeing more of your local areas on foot; the enjoyment of walking with other people, whether family, friends or work colleagues and finally the stress relief that comes from walking -walking can clear your head.
Walk to School Week, 18 to 22 May, is part of the month’s activities and its aim is to encourage parents to send children to school on foot, rather than take them in the car or let them use public transport. The movement was started in 1995 with only five participating schools and now two decades later, more than one million children take part.
Similarly, there is Walk to Work Week, 11to 15 May, where grown-ups are encouraged to walk. In the morning, getting off the bus a stop early or parking a few streets away is a good way to add more steps to the daily total. And during the working day, after having lunch at the desks or in the canteen, take a walk and get some fresh air. Walk home with your workmates and chat away about everything under the sun but work!
【小题1】What's the purpose of Living Streets?| A．To let people keep away from vehicles. |
| B．To build safer walkways for pedestrians. |
| C．To help people enjoy walking in the street and enjoy life. |
| D．To make people aware of environmental pollution. |
| A．It is organized by the government. |
| B．It is held before Walk to Work Week. |
| C．It encourages students to walk to school alone. |
| D．It has developed rapidly over the last 20 years |
| A．An introduction to Walk to Work Week. |
| B．A nationwide health movement. |
| C．The influence of working day. |
| D．National Walking Month’s history. |
