With gas prices stubbornly sticking around $3 per gallon and the weather getting really nice, now is a great time to consider ditching your car keys for a comfortable pair of shoes.

Walking is a great, low impact way to improve fitness. It is cheaper and more environmentally friendly than driving. Plus, it is usually less stressful. Walking can also burn calories – about 100 calories per mile for someone weighing around 150 pounds.

Cutting back on driving is not as a big of a deal as it seems. A modestly active person can cover half a mile in about 10 minutes without breaking a sweat. Considering the time it takes to start the car, drive over, find a parking spot and get out of the car, there is not much of a time penalty for walking.

Plus, once you start to walk, you’ll realize that things are considerably closer than you realize. Many shopping centers and stores are located close enough that, traffic conditions permitting, you can actually walk from store to store instead of driving. And you’ll get the benefit of exercise, doing some good for the environment and spending less at the pump.

Obviously, common sense needs to be used. If there is no sidewalk, the area is not safe or conditions are not suitable to staying outside (e.g. thunderstorms), then don't walk. But, there are many instances where once you start pass up driving for walking, you’ll wonder why you were driving so much in the first place.