A Joint Blog by the Long Island Health Collaborative and Walk Safe Long Island
Did you know May is Walking Month? The weather is warming up here on Long Island, and there are so many reasons to start walking for better health.
Stepping into Better Health
So, why walk? Walking safely is an evidence-based, low-impact form of physical activity that provides significant mental and physical health benefits as we grow and age.
Walking regularly strengthens muscles, improves balance, and maintains flexibility. These physical benefits are wonderful for walkers of all ages, but they’re especially important for older adults as we age. Walking helps prevent the leading cause of injury among adults aged 65 and older: falls.
Walking is just one form of aerobic exercise that’s been proven to reduce anxiety and depression. Where you walk matters, too. Nature walks have been studied and shown to improve anxiety and depression symptoms among walkers.
Luckily, Long Island is home to many beautiful places to walk. Learn more about parks, free community walks, and other scenic walking opportunities here on our website.
Walking Safely
Walking is a hugely beneficial form of physical activity, as long as you’re walking safely. While the exercise of walking can help prevent falls, fall prevention while walking should be a priority for walkers of all ages.
Again, where you walk matters, especially if your route runs through bustling areas where roadways are shared among pedestrians, cyclists, and motor vehicles. Long Island is very car-centric, and unfortunately, those shared roadways can be dangerous places for pedestrians to walk, especially where sidewalks and pedestrian signals are inconsistent. According to the New York State Sheriffs’ Association County Crash Dashboards, there were 1,530 pedestrian crashes across both Long Island counties between October 1, 2024, and September 30, 2025, with 62 fatalities.
Our partners at the New York Coalition for Transportation Safety and Walk Safe Long Island remind you to take the following steps to ensure a safe walk, especially as a pedestrian on a shared roadway:
- Ensure shoelaces are securely tied to avoid falls
- Eliminate distractions so you’re able to pay attention to potential tripping hazards and other roadway users
- See and Be Seen! Make eye contact with drivers and cyclists whenever possible to ensure you see one another
- Plan your route to avoid any unexpected obstacles to safety, such as lack of sidewalks or roadways where cars tend to speed.
- Follow the laws in place. For example, if there are no sidewalks, NYS law requires pedestrians to walk on the side of the road facing traffic.
Find more laws in place to protect all road users on the Walk Safe Long Island website.
Wherever you walk, make sure to do it safely. Remember that every walk is another step down a path to better physical and mental health.