Consider An Active Commute For Better Health
By: Jen Mueller,
SparkPeople Blogger
7/21/2009 2:49 PM
: 138 comments
: 9,380 Views
Although it's a great way to get some extra activity, only about 17% of Americans walk or bike to work each day. Why is that number so low? Would you consider this kind of commute if you knew it could improve your overall health--regardless of your regular exercise routine? A new study shows the health benefits of an active commute.
In this study, commuters who walked or biked to work did better on treadmill tests than those who did not. The active male commuters also had healthier BMI's, cholesterol and blood pressure levels. The study interviewed over 2,000 workers about their commuting habits over the past 12 months. With American obesity rates continuing to climb, promoting active commutes to school and work should be something to consider. Previous research has shown that countries with the highest levels of walking and biking have lower levels of obesity.
So why don't more people walk and bike to work? Many of us (me included) live too far from the office to make walking or biking feasible. Lack of sidewalks or bike paths also discourages an active commute. But research has shown that when cities build bike paths and employers encourage these practices by offering showers and changing areas for their employees, the number of people biking and walking to work increases.
My family recently moved to a new neighborhood, and my daughter's school will be less than 1/2 mile away. I was excited when I discovered this, thinking about us walking to and from school each day to promote extra activity and even just for the fresh air. But I was disappointed to learn that there are not sidewalks and almost no shoulder on the side of the road. The idea of driving her 1/2 mile to and from school each day bothers me. Besides the fact that it will take me longer to get her and her brother into and out of their car seats, it would be much better for our health and the environment to walk instead of drive. But she's only 2, so maybe there's time for me to lobby for some sidewalks in our neighborhood before school begins.
Do you walk or bike to work? If not, why? Would you consider it if there were better access to the resources you needed?
In this study, commuters who walked or biked to work did better on treadmill tests than those who did not. The active male commuters also had healthier BMI's, cholesterol and blood pressure levels. The study interviewed over 2,000 workers about their commuting habits over the past 12 months. With American obesity rates continuing to climb, promoting active commutes to school and work should be something to consider. Previous research has shown that countries with the highest levels of walking and biking have lower levels of obesity.
So why don't more people walk and bike to work? Many of us (me included) live too far from the office to make walking or biking feasible. Lack of sidewalks or bike paths also discourages an active commute. But research has shown that when cities build bike paths and employers encourage these practices by offering showers and changing areas for their employees, the number of people biking and walking to work increases.
My family recently moved to a new neighborhood, and my daughter's school will be less than 1/2 mile away. I was excited when I discovered this, thinking about us walking to and from school each day to promote extra activity and even just for the fresh air. But I was disappointed to learn that there are not sidewalks and almost no shoulder on the side of the road. The idea of driving her 1/2 mile to and from school each day bothers me. Besides the fact that it will take me longer to get her and her brother into and out of their car seats, it would be much better for our health and the environment to walk instead of drive. But she's only 2, so maybe there's time for me to lobby for some sidewalks in our neighborhood before school begins.
Do you walk or bike to work? If not, why? Would you consider it if there were better access to the resources you needed?
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Comments
With the price of gasoline I have even considered using my future bike to run some errands. Why not use my fat stores instead of the oil companies' reserves. Personally I think America needs to spend some time in promoting walking and biking as an alternate form of transportation rather than spending all the effort and money trying to develop new fuel sources. Americans are definitely in too much of a hurry to get everywhere. - 5/19/2011 2:39:57 PM
The health benefit was just an added bonus!
-- Hilary - 11/20/2009 11:38:48 AM
I was appalled that you couldn't even walk, Let alone bike anywhere in the outer suburbs. No wonder why I gained 25 pounds that stubbornly would not give way.
Now my commute is my basement where I have a private pilates studio. I have to purpose to walk and bike at the gym. Should I ever move back to the metro, I'd begin commuting without a second thought! - 7/24/2009 8:54:05 PM
I live in an area where businesses have bicycle parking and sometimes showers; where communities have "bike-pools" where kids and parents bike to school together; where public transit can get you most places, and combined with a bike almost anywhere. If your neighborhood makes it difficult or impossible for kids to get to school safely on foot or bike, demand change. If you value your childrens' health and your own future, it is essential. - 7/24/2009 12:34:59 PM
- 7/24/2009 10:54:12 AM
- 7/24/2009 12:55:21 AM
My problems with biking are these.
1) I am scared. I have watched bikers on these same roads get hit by cars. I feel like I need some kind of safety lesson first.
2) Where do I put the bike at work?
3) How much would a used bike cost to get started? The new ones that fold up to solve the where to put the bike at work question are really expensive. - 7/23/2009 2:06:51 PM
I'm making myself walk almost daily now and am seeing positive results. - 7/23/2009 12:14:18 PM
At one time I only lived 5 miles from work but couldn't cycle. Every route had busy roads with aggressive drivers, narrow lanes and no shoulders. This was very frustrating to me since I would have much prefered to bike to work; at least when the weather was nice. - 7/23/2009 10:48:10 AM
The ride home I would crank a 15mph pace and really hussle all the way home.
Unfortunately I have moved to about 26 miles away from my work. I still have a mountain bike/stree bike hybrid, so that would be excessive. I have thought about parking my car about 10 miles out and then biking the difference. I would still be taking 20 miles off the commute and that ride in would be great for my health.
- 7/23/2009 8:47:07 AM
I know it's not possible for everyone, but if people made proximity to work, school, or shopping a priority when looking for housing, it could make a big difference. Over a decade ago we made a conscious decision to move 25 miles closer to work - the house cost more but our quality of life improved dramatically (plus we saved boatloads of money by not driving so much, including lower auto insurance costs).
For those who think you can't bike with kids, you can! You could pull them in a trailer if they're really little, or use a co-pilot when they are older but not able to bike solo. We did that when ours were in preschool (not every day, but it is possible). It just has to be a priority. And yes, lobby the government for safer options (sidewalks, bike lanes, etc). If we lived in a neighborhood without sidewalks, I'd be walking on people's lawns to get to that school... - 7/22/2009 11:20:24 PM
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