Inactivity 'may be as deadly as smoking'

[freedom fighter jh]

50. We need to make human-powered transportation more viable.

Used to be that people exerted themselves physically in their work and in getting around. Now, for most of us, work is sedentary and transportation is powered by internal combustion.

We could still get some exercise out of transportation if the system were set up to allow it. (I am fortunate to live in a place where it is. If I have to go someplace within 3 or 4 miles, I usually bike it.) What would this look like?

* Special lanes, preferably *off*, not *on*, the main roads, set aside for cyclists and pedestrians. It's even better if there are separate lanes for cyclists and pedestrians. If not, cyclists should defer to pedestrians. I speak as a cyclist.

* Preference given to sidewalks and bike lanes. In other words, in a blizzard, don't plow the snow from the road and pile it on the sidewalk! When you do that you make it impossibly dangerous for people to get around in a human-powered way. Enforce rules against parking in the bike lane.

Even under the best circumstances, not everyone would be able to get everywhere on their own power, but most of us would be able to do some of what we have to do on our own feet or foot-powered wheels.

This system would benefit benefit citizens by:

* making a more (physically) active lifestyle viable,
* decreasing traffic in the main lanes, making traffic move faster,
* decreasing carbon dioxide emissions.