Participate in Car Free Day this year on September 22nd! Car Free Day is recognized worldwide and encourages greener, more sustainable methods of travel. gitamini, the cargo-carrying, following robot makes it easier to leave the car at home and travel on foot more often.

Walking has so many benefits for the earth and for your health:

• For every mile you walk instead of drive, you reduce your carbon footprint by one pound.

• Inactivity is the fourth leading cause of mortality around the world; physical activity dropped 32% in the last four decades in the U.S.

• On a single car-free day in 2015, Paris cut smog by 40% in parts of the city.

• Regular walking may reduce the risk of diseases such as type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and colon cancer.

• People who walk 8.6 minutes a day are 33% more likely to report better mental health.

• If people drove one less day a week, it could reduce 3.8 million tons of greenhouse gas emissions a year.

• Walking reduces stress, boosts immune system, increases energy, improves sleep, lowers blood pressure and reduces inflammation

Americans spend 87% of their time indoors and an additional 6% in an enclosed vehicle (on average). With gitamini, you’re able to walk further and more often without being limited by what you can carry. gitamini can carry up to 20 pounds and can follow you for up to 21 miles on a single charge.

Make better choices for yourself and the environment this Car Free Day and challenge yourself to run some errands on foot, walk to work, or just get some steps in and enjoy the fresh air. gitamini will follow you along the way, no matter how you choose to spend the day!

Sources:

• KLEPEIS, N., NELSON, W., OTT, W. et al. The National Human Activity Pattern Survey (NHAPS): a resource for assessing exposure to environmental pollutants. J Expo Sci Environ Epidemiol 11, 231–252 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.jea.7500165

• Lee IM, Shiroma EJ, Lobelo F, Puska P, Blair SN, Katzmarzyk PT; Lancet Physical Activity Series Working Group. Effect of physical inactivity on major non-communicable diseases worldwide: an analysis of burden of disease and life expectancy. Lancet. 2012 Jul 21;380(9838):219-29. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(12)61031-9. PMID: 22818936; PMCID: PMC3645500.