You might think that with America in the midst of an obesity epidemic and with the price of gasoline flirting with $4/gallon, walking and riding a bicycle would be flourishing. You would be wrong. In fact, overall, the numbers are down not up.
http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/05/23/us-fitness-walking-cycling-idUSTRE74M1QI20110523
Only among certain segments, such as middle aged men, is walking and cycling up.
Depressing news.
The article blames poor walking/cycling infrastructure. Doubtless that is a factor. IMO, Crime and, for women, harassment and confrontations are also involved. A woman walking or cycling by is treated the way a man is who wears spandex, subjected to catcalls, jeers, suggestive remarks.
I walk and ride a bicycle. Nearly all my walking is done on errands and not purely for the exercise. Part of my cycling is the same. IMO, exercise as a lifestyle has to be intertwined with work, shopping, and other errands, the movements of daily life.
http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/05/23/us-fitness-walking-cycling-idUSTRE74M1QI20110523
Only among certain segments, such as middle aged men, is walking and cycling up.
Depressing news.
The article blames poor walking/cycling infrastructure. Doubtless that is a factor. IMO, Crime and, for women, harassment and confrontations are also involved. A woman walking or cycling by is treated the way a man is who wears spandex, subjected to catcalls, jeers, suggestive remarks.
I walk and ride a bicycle. Nearly all my walking is done on errands and not purely for the exercise. Part of my cycling is the same. IMO, exercise as a lifestyle has to be intertwined with work, shopping, and other errands, the movements of daily life.