Healthy Mobility - Movement Made Easy

Healthy mobility - movement made easy

We live in a time that is characterized by mobility. It has never been so easy, quick and convenient to get from one place to another: for the way to work or to school, for shopping, to visit friends, for leisure activities etc. Most of the distances are covered by motorized means of transport without you have to do a lot of movement yourself. A sedentary lifestyle is very common in the population and a cause of many health problems. Only around a fifth of young people and a quarter of adults in Austria exercise so often and so much that it is good for their health.

"Active mobility" in everyday life offers the chance to do something good for your health. "Active mobility" is understood to mean any movement from "A" to "B" using your own muscle power. This includes above all walking and cycling, but also running or getting around with inline skates, skateboards, scooters or scooters.

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• At least 150 minutes of exercise per week
• More mobility through muscle power
• Cycling and walking
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• ">">“Active mobility” relieves the environment

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• Switch to "active mobility"

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A prerequisite for safe “active mobility” in everyday life is the right infrastructure to get from “A” to “B”, eg safe bike paths and school routes, pedestrian zones or lockable parking spaces for bicycles.

At least 150 minutes of exercise per week

Regular exercise has many beneficial effects on the body. Experts

recommend at least 150 minutes (two and a half hours) of moderate-intensity exercise per week. This means that you can still speak while moving, but you can no longer sing. Ideally, the activity should be spread over as many days of the week as possible, e.g. at least 20 minutes of exercise every day. You can find more information in the exercise recommendations (Fonds Gesundes Österreich).

It doesn't always have to be sport! A healthy amount of exercise can be achieved through “active mobility” as well as through sporting activities - “active mobility” is even easier to implement in everyday life!

Scientific research shows that sitting for hours on end, day in and day out, is not good for the body. Those who then do intensive sport once or twice a week and exert themselves excessively can do more harm to health than good. It is better to allow your body to exercise throughout the week or day without overexerting yourself. For example, through healthy exercise in everyday life.

More mobility through muscle power

Traffic and mobility are an ideal combination to easily and effectively incorporate more movement into everyday life. Every fourth distance covered in Austria is a commute. Around a third of the commute to work is shorter than five kilometers. Many paths can easily be tackled by bike or on foot. This also applies to children and young people on their way to school.

Cycling and walking

According to traffic statistics, the most frequently used means of transport are one's own legs: Almost

everyone walks - at least a short distance - with everyday tasks. Walking is healthy and has the least negative effects on the environment compared to other modes of transport.

For older people in particular, walking is often the most important way of getting around in everyday life. The duration of this activity can easily be expanded to bring more movement into everyday life.

Cycling is also a form of mobility that promotes health. Those who love exercise also use inline skates, scooters, skateboards and the like for everyday trips. For longer journeys, physical and motorized mobility can be combined, e.g. on foot or by bike to the bus or train station and then the last part on foot or with the rental bike to the destination.

What are the advantages of “active mobility” for me?

• More health and a higher quality of life through regular exercise: Studies show that the benefits of “active mobility” for health outweigh the possible risks from accidents or environmental pollution. The positive effects are around seven times higher than the negative!
• More calorie consumption, lower body weight: people who regularly ride their bikes weigh an average of four kilos less than people who regularly use the car.
• Save time and money: Everyday movement with your own muscle drive costs almost nothing, requires no special fitness equipment and does not require a lot of time. In the city you can often get to your destination faster by bike, on foot and public transport than by private car.

“Active mobility” relieves the environment

Moving with your own muscle strength avoids environmental pollution such as noise, fine dust or nitrogen oxides, which are caused by motor vehicle traffic with combustion engines. “Active mobility” and the use of environmentally friendly public transport help reduce emissions of the greenhouse gas CO ₂.

Switch to "active mobility"

If you decide to ride your bike or walk more often, you sometimes have to rethink your own habits first. It seldom works out from one day to the next, e.g. to switch from the car to the bike for the commute. First of all, it is important to find a good route, to park the bike safely, etc. But those who have started can be more actively mobile step by step.

Various offers, campaigns and projects help implement healthy "active mobility" in everyday life, e.g.

• in school and kindergarten
• on the way to work and at work or
• in the community or in the city.

Note The Active Mobility brochure provides an overview of available information materials and projects on the topic from various areas.