According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), adults require at least 2.5 hours or 150 minutes of physical activity per week. If you recently moved into the city, you may think your outdoor hobbies are limited. Without any nature trails or bodies of water nearby, you may feel like you can’t get in your weekly recommended amount of physical activity. However, you can still get enough physical activity without limiting yourself to the gym. Here’s how you can get started:
Outdoor Activities You Can Do in the City
Although you won’t have mountains to hike or rivers to kayak in, you can still discover new ways to be active outdoors in the city. Here are some activities you can consider:
- Cycling: This will help you get your heart rate up and can be a great way to explore your new surroundings. If you’re unfamiliar with the city, cycling is a great way to see all the different neighborhoods and attractions.
- Gardening: If you have a balcony, you can use these spaces to grow your plants. Just make sure that you have enough sunlight and space for your plants. Gardening also offers mental health benefits so you can relax and de-stress while enjoying the fruits of your labor.
- Park Activities: You can join a local team for recreational games, go for a jog, or just go for a walk. Going to the park is a great way to get some fresh air and enjoy the outdoors.
Bike Laws and Safety
If you’re thinking about cycling, you must be aware of the bike laws in your city. These vary from city to city, so you must familiarize yourself with the rules before hitting the streets. Common bike laws include wearing a helmet, installing lights and reflective devices on your bike, using the right bike lanes or routes, making a turning signal before doing so, and following stop signs. These are being enforced for your safety, and you must follow them well.
However, there may come a time when you can still get hurt despite following road and safety rules. For example, you’re following a bike lane down a street, and you get hit by a car, sending you flying off your bike and hitting the pavement. After this incident, you should be entitled to compensation for your injuries, but the driver’s insurance company denies your claim. That would cause you to lose money for medical bills, lost wages, and other damages. This is why you should hire a reliable bicycle accident lawyer to help you get the compensation you deserve. This will not only help you cover your medical bills, but it will also hold the driver accountable for their actions.
Balcony Gardening Permissions
If you’re thinking about gardening, check with your landlord to see if it’s allowed first. Some landlords might not allow gardening on the property because, for example, your balcony garden might affect the balconies below you, especially if soil or water were to spill over. Another instance is if you have climbing plants that might grow beyond your balcony and into someone else’s space. Make sure to get permission from your landlord before starting your garden to avoid any conflict later on.
If your landlord allows you to maintain a garden on your balcony, ensure all your pots are secure and have proper gardening tools and chemicals storage. This is important so none of your pots and gardening equipment might fall over your balcony edge. If you aren’t careful about these factors, you might accidentally cause someone harm .
Park Rules and Regulations
When visiting your local park, it is important to be aware of any rules and regulations. These rules are there to ensure the safety and enjoyment of all visitors. Some common park rules include keeping your pets on a leash and picking up after them, not littering, and respecting park hours. There may also be specific activities that are not allowed in the park, such as skateboarding or riding a bike. In addition, it is also important to practice good park etiquette. This means respecting other visitors, cleaning up after yourself, and not making too much noise. Be sure to familiarize yourself with the rules before visiting to have a fun and enjoyable experience.
It can be tough to find time for your outdoor hobbies when you live in the city. Between work, errands, and social obligations, there often isn ’t much left over in the day. But it’s important to make time for the things you love, especially if they keep you healthy and happy.
