Walk to work, get fit and save the planet

Walking is a great way to stay trim and helps keep your heart healthy. It also saves on petrol and bus fares, and is better for the environment. Currently 47% of our students and 11% of our staff usually walk to the University. A further 13% of students and 9% of staff occasionally walk to work.

We'd like to encourage more staff and students to consider walking to, from and around our University. We released our first Leeds Met Walking and Cycling Guide in February 2011.

More information about making the most of your commute and getting out and about in your lunch hour is available on the Walk to Work website. Our University has joined the initiative, so you can sign up giving Leeds Metropolitan (City or Headingley Campuses) as your workplace, join up with other members of staff and take the challenge to keep track of your miles walked, calories burned and CO² saved. So far it appears that our staff have burned off the equivalent of ten muffins, but it's only Day 1 as yet.

Our University also supported Leeds City Council's project to install new Walkit Leeds maps and signs in Leeds city centre. They are solar powered, so in the evening the maps are backlit using the latest LED technology - a UK first for street maps. 25 of these signs will be installed before the end of May.

More information can be found about walking and other sustainable transport modes on our staff and student webpages.

For any questions about walking to work or around campus, contact Rachael Elliott, Transport Co-ordinator, at transport@leedsmet.ac.uk.