Posted 01/28/2010
General News

Investing in Biking and Walking Could Save Lives Says Report

States with the lowest levels of biking and walking have higher traffic fatalities and chronic disease.

Washington, DC (January 28, 2010) - A new report released today by the Alliance for Biking & Walking shows that lack of investment in biking and walking could be contributing to higher traffic fatalities and chronic disease rates in the U.S.

Bicycling and Walking in the United States: The 2010 Benchmarking Report reveals that in almost every state and major U.S. city, bicyclists and pedestrians are at a disproportionate risk of being killed, and receive less than their fair share of transportation dollars. While 10% of trips in the U.S. are by bike or foot, 13% of traffic fatalities are bicyclists and pedestrians. Biking and walking receive less than 2% of federal transportation dollars. Seniors are at an even greater risk. While adults over 65 make up 9% of walking trips and 4% of biking trips, they account for 19% of pedestrian fatalities and 9% of bicyclist fatalities.

"State investment choices can be a life or death issue for people who walk and bike," says Jeff Miller, president of the Alliance. "Creating safe streets for everyone will save lives and improve health and quality of life in communities."

The report also highlights the fact that states with the lowest levels of biking and walking have, on average, the highest rates of obesity, diabetes, and high blood pressure. In contrast states with the highest levels of biking and walking have, on average, the lowest rates of obesity, diabetes, and high blood pressure. In addition, where rates of biking and walking are greater, more of the adult population is likely to achieve the 150 minutes of weekly moderate-intensity aerobic activity recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). According to CDC, physical activity can reduce your risk of dying early from the leading causes of death, like heart disease and some cancers.

The report also ranks states and the 51 largest U.S. cities in biking and walking levels, safety, funding, advocacy, and policies. It further compares U.S. cities to their international peers finding that overall, U.S. investment in biking and walking lags far behind that of other developed nations. This may explain why the U.S. has fewer people who bike and walk than its international peers.

Miller says, "Our data show that increasing investment in biking and walking could lead to more people biking and walking. The more people bike and walk, the safer it is and the healthier the community. It's a virtuous cycle."

Share this article

Email

Twitter Facebook MySpace

Delicous Stumble Digg

More Destinations...

Featured Events

Bike MS Ride
Road Touring from September 11, 2010–September 12, 2010 @ Mt Vernon, WA
Tour des Lacs
Road Touring from September 18, 2010–September 19, 2010 @ Spokane, WA
Tour de Whidbey
Road Touring on September 25, 2010 @ Whidbey Island, WA
Harvest Century
Road Touring on October 09, 2010 @ Hillsboro, OR
View Calendar »

Features

Don’t Be Left Out in the Cold
Excitement has reached the Northwest’s racing scene once more — you can feel it, it’s in the air. Thousands of riders, from the beginners to the top athletes, are watching their calendar in anticipation of what should incontestably be another memorable cyclocross season. Go see one, go race one, you’ll get the bug, I guaranty it!
How to Adjust and Maintain Disc Brakes
Disc brakes ushered in a new era for cycling, but the learning curve was a bit steep for many shop mechanics and consumers. This led to an initial stigma due to a basic misunderstanding of how the brakes were serviced and how they functioned.
The Cycling Healthcare Overhaul
Obesity is a growing problem in the United States. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the World Health Organization (WHO), the Surgeon General and other health institutions and professionals have labeled it an “epidemic.” Cycling offers a relatively simple and accessible solution for many people.
Cycle U's Cyclocross Boot Camp
Craig Undem has been a professional cycling coach since 1996 and has been competing since the ‘80s, equating to a lot of experience. Kristi Berg is an accomplished road, mountain bike, BMX, and cyclocross racer, and a nationally certified personal trainer and Level 2 cycling coach. Last year, the folks from Seattle’s Cycle University produced an instructional video titled Cyclocross Boot Camp. It contains two DVDs that run about 90 minutes total. In the videos the narrators, Undem and Berg, cover various topics to help current or aspiring cyclocross racers perform at their highest level and to “help you rock your ‘cross” season.

Opinions

Cadence Press Rolls Out Bike Books To Help You Find Your Rhythm
Who would launch a bike book publishing company during a recession when many publishers are closing up shop? It sounds like pedaling uphill in a headwind with storm clouds building on the horizon. But if you’ve towed your sons across continents, outpaced angry elephants in Botswana, been treed by geese in New Hampshire, and reclaimed your possessions in a mountain bike race in the Australian Outback, taking on the challenge of launching a publishing company during “interesting times” is in character.Par for the course, really, my course anyway, that looks like Dr. Seuss designed it, mind you.
What Gears Are For
Because your legs, like a car engine, have a happy, efficient operating range, most bikes are equipped with a number of gears. This allows your legs to find a cadence or a pedaling speed that pleases them. Each time you pause, your muscles stop moving the blood in and out of your legs, where it can be cleansed and re-oxygenated. Nothing good happens while you’re coasting.
How Cyclists Helped Rethink A Bridge
In the spring of 2009, the Oregon and the Washington State Department of Transportation and other business interest groups were pushing the Columbia River Crossing project, a 4 billion dollar, 12-lane bridge planned to replace the existing I-5 structure between Oregon and Washington.
On the Club Ride, Part Two
Part two of a two-part conversation between Maynard and his friend Corey. Last month they were talking about club rides and the advantages and disadvantages of participating in them. Many would never ride with more experienced cyclists. They’re afraid they’ll embarrass themselves when they can’t get a wheel off their bike and fix a flat in a reasonable time — while 15 people fidget and watch. If you can fix a flat, you know how easy it is. If you don’t know how, think of how liberated you’d feel if you did know. Why, you could ride with anybody!