National Walking Month

03 May 2025

Get involved in walking and wheeling events throughout May

National Walking Month celebrates the many benefits of walking and wheeling more as a fundamental part of daily life. Walking and wheeling (meaning to move at walking pace e.g. wheelchairs, and other forms of mobility aids) has many benefits including meeting new people, getting outdoors, and discovering new places, which are shown to improve health, wellbeing and reduce feelings of social isolation.  

Why get involved? 

• Boost your health: Just 30 minutes a day can improve your heart health, reduce stress, and increase energy. 

• Connect with others: Walking and wheeling is a great way to spark conversations — whether with friends, colleagues, or neighbours. 

• Go Green: Walking and wheeling instead of driving cuts down on emissions and supports a healthier planet. 

• Sharpen your mind: physical activity boosts creativity and helps to clears your head

Get involved in local activity and check-out national campaigns too:  

• Greater Manchester Walking Festival: programme of walking and wheeling events throughout May.
     
• Living Streets offer #TRY20 Tips, 20 tips to help you fit 20 minutes of walking or wheeling into your day.  

Activities You Could Try 

• Step Challenge: Organise a friendly competition at work or in your community. Most steps wins. 
• Walking Photo Bingo: Snap pics of things on your route — a bird, a red door, something inspiring. 
• Lunchtime Walks: Start a daily walk club during lunch breaks. 
• Podcast & Walk: Pair your walks with a great podcast or audiobook. 
• Explore Local Trails: Try somewhere new each week. 

Inclusive Step Conversion Options for Wheelchair Users and Other Forms of Mobility Aids 

1. Distance-Based Conversion 

Use distance travelled and convert it into an estimated step count. General rule of thumb: 

• 1 mile wheeled = 2,000 steps 
• 1 kilometre = 1,250 steps 

2. Time-Based Conversion  

If distance tracking isn't possible, use time wheeled as an alternative. Example: 

• 10 minutes of moderate wheeling = 1,000 steps 
• 30 minutes = 3,000 steps 

3. Use an Activity Tracker That Supports Wheeling 

Some fitness trackers and apps offer integration for wheelchair users: 

• Apple Watch (with wheelchair mode): Tracks pushes instead of steps. 
• Google Fit and other apps: Allow manual entry of activities and distance. 
• Strava or MapMyFitness: Track distance for manual conversion. 

Power-Assisted Wheelchair Users  

Example of Distance-Based Conversion: 

- 1 km power-wheeled = 1,250 steps 

- 10 minutes powered movement = 1,000 steps

Power-assisted movement provides many benefits: fresh air, mental stimulation, improved circulation, and increased social interaction. 

Mental Wellbeing and Nature Exposure 

• Being outside and moving through different environments is shown to reduce stress and anxiety. 
• Participants can join group outings, explore green spaces, or enjoy solo “wheels in nature” time. 
• It's a great opportunity to practice mindfulness on the move. 

Social Inclusion & Visibility 

• Taking part in events like walking/wheeling meetups, awareness days, or office challenges increases visibility for powered wheelchair users. 
• Encourages wider conversations around inclusive fitness, public access, and mobility rights.