As the weather warms up, it's not unusual to see parks and playgrounds crowded with both the young and the young-at-heart. But technically, these are not the city's only public spaces; there are miles upon miles of public streets. What if these spaces, too, were available for people to enjoy? Open streets projects aim to make this happen. Known … Continue reading Call them what you will, open streets/play streets/ciclovias provide valuable opportunities for recreation
Article: Redesigning urban environments for active transport
What do the mayors of London and Sydney have in common? They are both focused on improving health in their cities by redesigning the urban environment to make it easier for people to walk, bike, and take public transit. Read more in this article from the Guardian.
Article: Less than 25% of Americans walk for more than 10 minutes continuously in a typical week
This article from Science Daily draws attention to the fact that many Americans live a sedentary lifestyle. But what exactly does that mean? How sedentary are we? Well, according to a recent study, less than a quarter of Americans walks for more than ten consecutive minutes in a typical week. The researchers partially attribute this phenomenon … Continue reading Article: Less than 25% of Americans walk for more than 10 minutes continuously in a typical week
Take the 2-mile challenge!
Did you know that about 40% of trips in urban areas are 2 miles or less? That means they would take about 40 minutes to walk, yet 90% of these trips are made by car. It costs a lot to run a car (about $5,170 per year, in fact). Plus, driving is one of the … Continue reading Take the 2-mile challenge!
D.C. blogger defends “schlepping” groceries
Living without access to a car usually means that you have to "schlep" groceries home on foot or by bike or public transit. While some may see this as an inconvenience, schlepping has many health benefits, and it's not just the workout you get from carrying heavy bags across town.In a post entitled "The Hidden … Continue reading D.C. blogger defends “schlepping” groceries