Wyndham residents are being asked to ditch their cars and walk or cycle to the Wyndham Vale and Tarneit railway stations when they open next month.
As part of its Healthy Together Wyndham initiative, the council is calling on locals to improve their health by walking or cycling to the new stations, which open on June 21.
Community wellbeing portfolio holder Bob Fairclough said the opening of the stations would mean a change in routine for many residents and presented a great opportunity to start healthy habits.
“Adults who take 10,000 steps a day improve their health are at lower risk of disease,” Cr Fairclough said.
“By walking to the station, or to a bus stop that gets you there, that daily exercise becomes part of your routine, which makes it easier to adhere to than working out at the gym after a long day.”
The council has created maps that note the estimated time it should take to walk to the new stations from a number of nearby locations and the number of steps the trips should take.
“For example, if you live in King Lake Drive it should take you around 15 minutes or roughly 1500 steps to get to the new Wyndham Vale train station,” Cr Fairclough said.
“By walking to and from the station each day, you would do 3000 of your 10,000 steps.
“And most people would take another walk when the train arrives at Southern Cross.”
For people who prefer cycling, bike storage cages and external hoops will be available at the new stations.
The walking maps are available at www.getwyndhammoving.com.au.
