Park benches you walk past
See roughly how many park benches you walk past.
Your details
Benches on your walk
24 benches
2.41 km at steady, 3 mph
- A bench every100 m
- Benches a year6,298
- Rest stops at the 50 m guide48
UK guidance for accessible streets (DfT Inclusive Mobility) suggests a seat at least every 50 m in busy pedestrian areas, because many people need regular rests. Every bench you pass is one somebody else is glad of.
The working
30 minutes at 3 mph, a bench every 100 m
Half an hour at 3 mph covers 2.41 km, so you pass 24 benches. Five walks a week makes 6,298 benches a year. At the 50 m guide for accessible streets there would be 48 rest stops.
Why seats matter
Inclusive Mobility
Department for Transport guidance on accessible streets says many people need to rest every 50 m or so, and that seats at regular intervals help older and disabled people get out. A bench can be the difference between a walk and staying in.
Benches on your walk
Ideas
- Use benches as interval markers: walk briskly between two, then easy to the next
- Do a few sit to stands at a bench halfway
- Memorial benches often have stories behind them
Read with care
What this cannot tell you
- Count your real benchesSpacing varies hugely between parks.
- Find accessible routesAsk your council or a walking group.
- Rest for youSit down whenever you like.
Questions
Common questions
How far apart should benches be?
UK accessibility guidance suggests seats about every 50 m in busy pedestrian areas.
How far is a 30 minute walk?
About 2.4 km at 3 mph, a steady pace.
Can I do exercises at a bench?
Yes: sit to stands, step ups onto a low kerb and calf raises holding the back of a bench all work well.
Does slow walking count?
Any walking is good for you; brisk walking that makes you breathe faster counts towards 150 active minutes.
Sources
- Department for Transport: Inclusive Mobility, December 2021, section 3.4 (recommended distance without a rest)
- Compendium of Physical Activities: walking (METs by speed)
- NHS: walking for health
Last checked 21 October 2026. Spotted something wrong? Tell us and we will fix it.
Stop and get help
Stop and get help if you have chest pain, feel faint or are unusually breathless, and call 999 if chest pain does not go away. Check with your GP before stepping up if you have a heart, lung or joint condition.
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