New Research Suggests that Walking and Biking are the Happiest Modes of Transportation

According to new research from the University of Minnesota the advantages of walking and biking go beyond climate and public health benefits. Yingling Fan, a professor of urban and regional planning found that when compared to all other methods of transportation individuals who choose to walk and bike are the happiest. Human emotions are directly affected by the surrounding environment and Fan’s research found that people are much more likely to have a positive response when surrounded by natural spaces rather than being between large metal objects such as cars and trucks. 

This research serves as another reason why incentivizing walking and biking as forms of transportation is an important practice. One of the most important lessons that Fan includes in her work is that when designing transportation systems, the thought process has to go past just efficiency. Creating walking and biking paths that are aesthetically pleasing as well as efficient further reinforces the idea that active mobility can be fun. To learn more about the benefits of walking and biking, as well as how municipalities can support these forms of transportation visit Reimagining Walking Distance.