\u201cThat is obviously important,\u201d he said. \u201cBut I want to add to existing navigation\/trip planning apps a button that will give users the option to get a route that has more walking.\u201d<\/p>\n
Contrary to common assumptions, increasing one\u2019s walking time does not necessarily increase commute time, Rabinowitz said, and in some cases, it actually reduces it.<\/p>\n
The research, recently published in the peer-reviewed BMC Public Health<\/a>, was led by the late Bar-Ilan University researcher Dr. Yuval Hadas and graduate student Dan Katz. The scientists say this represents the first phase in a broader national initiative to promote walking through smart transportation planning.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re trying to help people make small tweaks to their everyday life that will have an impact on their wellness,\u201d Rabinowitz said. \u201cWe\u2019re encouraging people to take small steps, so to speak.\u201d<\/p>\n \t A 20-minute walk can reduce the risk of early death<\/p>\n According to Rabinowitz, the health implications of a little extra walking are \u201cpowerful.\u201d<\/p>\n Research has shown that a brisk 20-minute walk each day can reduce the risk of early death by up to 25%, he said.<\/p>\n \u201cIntegrating walking into daily commutes can be a practical and sustainable way to boost physical activity, especially for those who struggle to fit exercise into busy schedules,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n Although there are fitness apps that track or encourage physical activity, he said, \u201cthey don\u2019t tell you which route to walk to get from point A to B.\u201d<\/p>\n The idea behind the study grew out of Rabinowitz\u2019s personal experience helping his son recover from an army injury. His son had a commute of an hour and 40 minutes to a coding course that he was taking as he recovered.<\/p>\n \u201cHe found that if he got off in the middle and walked between lines or walked more on either end, he could get to his destination quicker,\u201d Rabinowitz said. \u201cAnd that is the genesis of this whole project.\u201d<\/p>\n Rabinowitz offered an easy tip to people to increase walking during their commute.<\/p>\n \u201cYou can get on a bus stop before the closest stop to your destination to add more walking time instead of sitting,\u201d he said. \u201cYou can also get off one stop before your destination and walk.\u201d<\/p>\n Yossi Sairov, founder of the pedestrians\u2019 \u200forganization Our Streets, who was not involved in the study, told The Times of Israel that Rabinowitz\u2019s initiative to encourage walking through public transportation apps is a \u201cnecessary and healthy step in today\u2019s dense and polluted urban reality.\u201d<\/p>\n \t \u201cEfficient public transport does not begin on the bus or the train, but with the first steps toward them,\u201d Saidov said. \u201cSmart integration of information, incentives, and guidance within the apps people already use can turn walking from an overlooked default into a legitimate and rewarded mode of transport.\u201d<\/p>\n He added, however, that an app alone \u201cis not enough. Responsibility now also lies with local authorities: to invest in continuous and safe sidewalks, shade, lighting, high-quality crosswalks, and convenient connections to transit stops. If we want people to walk more, walking must be safe, pleasant, and intuitive. This is where real urban leadership is measured.\u201d<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/PHOTO-2025-12-23-14-14-26-640x400.jpg\")
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\n\t\tProf. Jonathan Rabinowitz of Bar-Ilan University\u2019s Weisfeld School of Social Work holds a transportation app showing user preferences. He\u2019s lobbying companies to add a \u2018more walking\u2019 preference in addition to the \u2018less walking\u2019 preference. (Courtesy)<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/yossi-640x400.jpeg\")
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\n\t\tYossi Saidov, founder of the pedestrians\u2019 organization, Our Streets. (Courtesy)<\/p>\n
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