Walking is great for the environment and local communities, helping to reduce stress on the public transport network, reducing the number of cars on the road and improving local air quality.
We all know that walking is good for your health but walking to work can also save you money – no fares, petrol or parking to pay and no expensive equipment required!
Walking to work is totally stress-free compared with some other modes of travel, there’s no need to worry about traffic or public transport delays – you’ll know exactly how long your walk takes!
The MyCommute team have produced an Active Travel Guide for Dublin, which details key routes, advice and more. You can view and download the Active Travel Guide on the resources page by following the link below.
You’ll really feel the benefits of taking a few minutes to plan before setting off on your walk to work. To help you get off on the right foot we’ve put together this handy guide to the ‘walking-commute’, which will help you stay safe and comfortable.
Tips for the best walking-commute
Know your route
Before you start, it’s worth doing some research on the best route – there can be much nicer routes available than the one you usually commute in on. Using quieter side streets or greenway paths as much as possible can really help to make your commute enjoyable.
Using a route planner can take the stress out of figuring out the best route to take and help you to make the most of your walk. Here are some of the planners we would recommend:
As you become more confident with your walk to work, you can try varying it to keep it interesting. We’d always recommend trying out new routes on your way home so you really have time to explore!
Consider walking some of the way
For whatever reason it might not be possible for you to walk all the way to work but don’t let that put you off, there’s plenty of opportunity to combine your journey with one of the many public transport choices in Dublin.
You could even just consider hopping off your bus or tram a stop early – it’s a great way of fitting walking in around a busy schedule.
Get the kit
Over time you’ll figure out what works best for you but here are some of our top tips to help you get started:
- If you’re walking for over 10 minutes you’ll need some comfortable, well-fitting shoes. You can always change your shoes once you arrive at work.
- It’s best to avoid wearing anything big and bulky, multiple thin layers of clothes is the best approach. You’ll warm up much faster than you expect as you’re walking.
- Prepare for rain. A lightweight, waterproof coat isn’t too much trouble to carry and you’ll be really glad for it if you do get caught out!
- If you don’t usually use a backpack, then it might be worth switching to one (or a messenger bag) when you start walking. A backpack will allow you to carry your usual load without putting you at risk of backache.
If you’re required to wear formal clothes at work and don’t have facilities available to change when you arrive then you could consider just walking home and using another method to get to work in the morning. This way you don’t have to worry about your clothes being crumpled or arriving to work sweaty and you can still get in a good workout!
If you are planning on walking to work, it’s a good idea to leave yourself an ’emergency’ kit at the office. Think about what you can leave in your locker, desk drawer or changing rooms. Belongings to leave could be:
- A change of clothes
- Smart shoes
- Underwear
- Loose change
- Deodorant
- Baby wipes
- Towel
Have a Plan B
It might not be possible to walk every day, the weather may not be in your favour or you might have a meeting you need to look extra nice for, having a Plan B ready will really help to take the stress away from the days you can’t walk, if you’re a usual walking-commuter.
Do you know the public transport routes between home and work? It might be helpful to always have the fare on hand.
Maybe one of your co-workers lives nearby and can give you a lift home in case of an emergency?
Can any of your friends and family be on call to pick you up?