No wonder we’re all gaining weight. New figures reveal that Brits are making twice as many trips by car as a generation ago but only half the number on foot. And despite the government health campaigns, cars are still increasingly our favourite way to get about.

A lot of our changed walking versus driving habits come from how we live today. While just five decades ago we would have been more likely to walk to work and the shops, these days we tend to commute many more miles by car and shop at out of town malls and large supermarkets

On average, as a result, we were a lot fitter and healthier. Of course, there were other factors to take into account but living somewhere that offers the opportunity to walk and cycle, rather than jump in the car, has to be a good thing.

But now, after decades of people moving further and further from their offices, and shopping centres being built greater distances from our homes, there seems to be one generation that is starting to return to the days of walking to services.

The 20somethings who choose to walk more

A recent survey has found that that 77% of millennials – the 20-somethings – want to live where they are “close to each other, to services, to places to meet and to work, and they would rather walk than drive”. This study did take place in America but what happens over there normally comes here, too.

This urban walking trend is defined as living somewhere that allows for much easier access to workplaces and local shops. Many millennials also embrace cycling as a mode of transport and a significant number do not even own a car.

Because millennials are delaying marriage and family, they tend to go on living their urban lives for far longer than their parents.

In favour of walking urbanism

Any trend that has a potential benefit for the health of the nation is to be encouraged. If the younger generations are keen to walk – and cycle – to shops, services, work and to see each other then the knock-on effect will be improved health. It has been show in so many pieces of research that a reliance on a car is has a negative impact on health and weight of humans.

Walking is one of the most beneficial forms of exercise because almost everyone can do it, it requires minimal kit and it burns lots of calories without putting major strain on joints and muscles.

Now where did we leave our urban walking shoes?