Sunday Mail

AUSTRALIANS are encouraged to leave their cars at home for Walk To Work day on Friday.

Walk to Work day, an initiative of the Pedestrian Council of Australia and sponsored by the National Heart Foundation and Cancer Council, encourages better health, cleaner air and less traffic.

PCA chairman Harold Scruby said Australians should use their cars less, to combat rising levels of obesity and air pollution.”This is the critical issue that we've started using cars to go to and from work and shops and schools,” Mr Scruby said.

“Leave that car at home and go and feel your legs again - get a feeling of how good it is to walk.”

Health experts say walking can reduce blood pressure, cholesterol and the risk of diabetes and heart disease and attacks.

The National Heart Foundation's top tips on keeping healthy centre around ditching the car when it comes to getting to work. “Don't drive when you can walk or cycle just as easily,” it says.

It also recommends you get off the train or bus a stop earlier and walk the extra distance home or to work.

Walkers can win $34,000 in prizes from Nokia and Telstra including the very latest MMS phone, the Nokia 7650. To enter send your name, address and mobile number in a text message to 0438 453 366 by midnight on Thursday.