Living Car Free - Medical Argument for Car-Free(Partially)

This article caught my attention because they keep mentioning public policy to encourage cycling to work. The World Cancer Research Fund report seems to advocate what some people who post in this forum advocate.

"Among the 48 recommendations is the advice for schools and workplaces to actively encourage physical activity and ban unhealthy food.

Governments should require widespread walking and cycling routes to encourage physical activity. "

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/7908675.stm

In the 1970s, I spent a year in Italy and I really admired the Italian tradition of taking a "passegiata" [a little walk on the piazza] just before or after the evening meal. What a wonderful tradition.

I don't know if government should require it, but it should do everything in its power to enable it. Just imagine how much more livable our streets would be if people spent an hour a day walking.



Definition: As evening falls and the harsh sun inches out of the your favorite piazza, an evening ritual is bound to begin, the Italian tradition of passeggiata, a gentle stroll (slow! think slow!) through the main streets of the old town, usually in the pedestrian zones in the centro storico, the historic center.

Italians tend to dress up for passeggiata, and tourists are usually easy to spot in their shorts and fanny packs. Older folks sit along the route, nursing a beer or a glass of wine in the bar, and watching for things to gossip about; la passeggiata is where new romances are on display as well as new shoes.

Passeggiata is especially popular on Sunday evenings. During the summer, some Italians even drive to nearby cities, the coast, or the lakes for a special passeggiata.


source : http://goitaly.about.com/od/italytravelglossary/g/passeggiata.htm

my parents always go for a walk after dinner.
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I don't think banning unhealthy food should be an option. encourage people to eat healthy offer healthy options cheaper then unhealthy options but its really up to you what you want to eat.

I think it would be a great idea. If we could even get one municipality to move towards a more car free environment, it would be a great model.

Doesn't DC have a fast food tax? I'm all about encouraging healthy food options.

my parents always go for a walk after dinner.
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I don't think banning unhealthy food should be an option. encourage people to eat healthy offer healthy options cheaper then unhealthy options but its really up to you what you want to eat.

unhealthy food is addictive, usually because of the hidden sugars. Unless you subsidize healthy foods they well almost always cost more due to handling, storage and spoilage costs.

Aaron:)

unhealthy food is addictive, usually because of the hidden sugars. Unless you subsidize healthy foods they well almost always cost more due to handling, storage and spoilage costs.

Aaron:)

The US government subsidizes "unhealthy" food--esopecially corn--while at the same time making it more difficult for smaller organic farmers to process and market their crops. If the playing field were level, healthy food probably would cost less than the agribusiness commodity crops.

unhealthy food is addictive, usually because of the hidden sugars. Unless you subsidize healthy foods they well almost always cost more due to handling, storage and spoilage costs.

Often it seems to be the case that:

if it isn't good enough for microorganisms to eat, it's not really good enough for us to eat (and still be healthy) either. I wonder if this is true of food grade mineral oil, packaged dinners, processed sugars...

The suggestion has been made that health insurers should help to pay for bicycle facilities.

The suggestion has been made that health insurers should help to pay for bicycle facilities.

If not for their own pocketbooks.