This could be the time to make a change that will improve your health, help the environment and even save you money: switching to active commuting. That means getting to work or school by walking, cycling, running, or rollerblading — and reducing traffic, air pollution and greenhouse-gas emissions at the same time.

A University of North Carolina study published this summer found that people who walked or biked to work were in better health than those who drove. The study followed more than 2,300 middle-aged commuters and found that those who biked or walked even part of the way had less fat, lower insulin levels, improved body mass index and improved blood pressure than their counterparts behind the wheel.

So what are you waiting for, lace up those sneakers and start your new commute today.

Do a little more each day than you think you possibly can.

Lowell Thomas

• Use different jogging, walking, or biking paths to vary your routine.
• Walk your child to school, if it’s within walking distance, which will give you double the steps and a little time to yourself when you walk back.
• If you use a taxi or public transportation, get out a block or one stop early and walk the rest of the way to your destination. Or walk a block or two before catching your cab, bus or trolley.
• Replace your coffee or smoking break with a 10-minute walking break instead.
• You should replace your walking shoes every 6 months or 3,000 miles to help prevent possible injuries to your feet, knees and back.

Carry a water bottle with you when you walk. Your body loses fluids when you engage in exercise and sweat in high heat. If you don’t increase your fluid intake and restore your body’s natural hydration levels, the results are nasty.

But the heat isn’t your only worry. On days with a high UV index (especially if you’re at risk for skin cancers), it’s smart to plan your walk for the early morning or later evening. You’ll want to watch the clock: stay out of the sun between 10:00 am and 4:00 pm when menacing rays are most likely to fry you.

There are no

shortcuts to any

place worth going.

Beverly Sills