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Walk more, cycle often for the sake of your health and our planet's

Walking and cycling improve fitness levels, and more than that it can be a wonderful way to commute (for shorter distances, maybe). Yet, the push for such non-motorised means of transport has been very low in cities globally owing to the massive presence of private vehicles and lack of reliable public transport. Safety is also a concern for pedestrians and cyclists in many cities, which discourages a lot of people from walking or cycling as often as they would like.
United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) is striving hard to bring out changes through policymakers that encourage a sustainable way of living and commuting. This includes cycling and walking and certain changes in day to day lifestyle.
Local governments, especially at grass-root levels, should encourage people to walk and cycle extensively. We should see more of initiatives such as Cycle Day, Cycle To Work, Walk to School, Bus Day etc. across global cities. Such initiatives can help a great deal.
-Varun Dambal, Bangalore, India