Tuesday, May 18, 2010

Loren Mooney at Huffington Post: Bikes are a City's Indicator Species

Loren Mooney, editor-in-chief of Bicycling Magazine makes a compelling argument for bicycle use is a strong indicator of a city's health.

Just as the fate of the seemingly lowly frog serves as a bellwether of the health of an ecosystem, the presence of bikes can tell you a lot about a community. First, a city with more bikes is likely safer, since people are comfortable being out on the streets. Its residents are likely healthier and more active -- even the recent White House Task Force on Childhood Obesity report to the president called for increased biking twice in its recommendations. And it's also a more green-minded metropolis, since people are of a mind to occasionally pedal for short trips instead of driving (the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that as many as 40% of car trips are 2 miles or less, a distance my mom could bike -- several times a day).

Read the rest at Huffingtonpost

It's bike to work week. Show visitors how healthy your city is.

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