We all know that biking is great for staying in shape and getting from point A to B with zero impact to the environment, but how many of us hop on our bikes simply because our physician tells us to?
TreeHugger reports that Boston Mayor Marty Walsh and the Boston Medical Center (BMC) have come up with a first-of-its-kind initiative to combat obesity and to increase access to Beantown’s bike share system, Hubway.
The so-called “Prescribe-a-Bike” program allows BMC doctors to provide low-income patients with a $5 membership to Hubway that usually costs $85 a year. The prescription even throws in a free helmet, too.
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To qualify for membership, “patients” must be 16 or older and receive public housing assistance or have a household income that’s not above 400 percent of the official poverty level, TreeHugger reports.
“There is no other program like this in the country,” Mayor Walsh told Boston Magazine. “Prescribe-a-Bike makes the link between health and transportation, and ensures that more residents can access the Hubway bike-share system.”
It’s actually becoming increasingly common for doctors to prescribe good ol’ exercise to their patients. WebMD cites a report from the CDC that found that one in three adults were advised by their doctors to increase physical activity in order to maintain or improve their health. That’s an increase from the year 2000 when less than a quarter of patients were given doctor’s orders to exercise. This is certainly a good trend because patients are five times more likely to exercise if their doctors tells them to, WebMD notes.
ALSO: Houston Bikers Need Safe Roads. Here’s the Simple Plan to Make That Happen.
Since this country’s obesity, heart disease, and diabetes epidemics show no signs of abating, we can only hope that out-there ideas like Boston’s Prescribe-a-Bike program will get adults moving.
Tag: Biking
This Intersection Redesign Isn’t Just a Bicyclist’s Dream. It Could Save Lives
Even though more and more bike lanes are popping up along our roads, cyclists are entirely exposed when they’re crossing the street. But thanks to a recent proposal from Portland-based urban planner Nick Falbo, our roads may soon be much safer.
Following the model of bike-friendly Dutch roads, Falbo illustrates his vision of a protected intersection in the video above that allows riders to be physically separated from motorists even at crossings. It includes features such as a corner refuge island, a stop bar for bicyclists to yield to pedestrians, increased visibility of bikers for motorists, and allows for shorter distances to pedal across the street. “Take it together, these design elements create a safe, clear experience for all people using the street,” Falbo says in the video.
Biking is great for our cities. It promotes health, reduces traffic congestion, and it’s much better for the environment. But the road can be a dangerous place for bicyclists. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration,more than 700 cyclists were killed and 49,000 were injured in traffic on American streets in 2012. Protected intersections could help keep our roads safe and encourage cycling. You can learn more about Falbo’s vision on his website.
MORE: Here’s a Simple Way to Get Your Community Interested in Better Bike Lanes
Here’s a Simple Way to Get Your Community Interested in Better Bike Lanes
Biking around town would be a lot more enjoyable if it weren’t for the constant fear of cars speeding by. In Minneapolis, a community coalition called Bikeways for Everyone is hoping to get more cyclists on the street by building 30 miles of protected bike lanes — dedicated zones that put a physical barrier between car traffic and riders — by 2020. These bikeways, also known as “cycle tracks,” not only provide bikers with safer places to ride, but also create more pedestrian-friendly streetscapes and opportunities for appealing greenspace. In commercial areas, these types of lanes also promote local businesses by increasing foot traffic. According to a study from the New York Department of Transportation, businesses along 9th Avenue in New York City, where the country’s first protected bike lane was constructed, saw an increase of 49 percent in retail sales. But then again, this should come as no surprise given research that bike riders spend more at local businesses, simply because it’s easier for them to hop off a bike than it is to park a car.
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While Minneapolis has incorporated elements of protected bike lanes into some areas, the city has yet to construct one that is a fully functioning. Plans to build a protected bikeway downtown on Washington Avenue are waiting to be approved (construction would start in 2015), so in the meantime, Bikeways for Everyone decided to test the waters and get the public on board. Last summer, volunteers gathered together to construct 15 plywood planters and set them up at each of the city’s four Open Streets events, creating a “pop-up” protected bike lane. Volunteers flagged bikers to ride through the protected area, and at the end, asked them to sign a petition to create permanent lanes like these across the city. “You don’t need a whole lot of space to get the point across that you have a space to ride your bike that’s protected from cars and pedestrians,” Andrew Kuncel, one of the event organizers, told People for Bikes.
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The demonstration cost about $600, but can be done for a lot less using cheaper materials, and can be implemented in any city (with local approval, of course). The idea is to show citizens how nice — and safe — bike riding can be, even in areas that are predominantly car-friendly, and encourage them to advocate for protected bike lanes in their cities. “My vision is that this campaign is successful, we have 30 miles of protected bikeway, and I can bring my kid everywhere we need to go … on a bike,” says Minneapolis Bicycle Coalition President Molly Sullivan. “And that bicycle ridership increases throughout the city so much so that the city says, ‘This is not a ‘nice to have.’ This is a ‘need to have.'”
MORE: 9 Surprising Infrastructure Innovations Happening Right Here in America
Improve Your Bike Commute by Re-Inventing the Wheel
Bicycling is a great option for an outdoor fitness routine, but even if you’re not training for a long ride or racking up miles on uphill climbs, you can still take part in the practical benefits of riding a bike. A bike commute, for example, helps you reduce your carbon footprint, save on gas money, and turns your commute into a workout, rather than a stressful ride through traffic. Some cyclists, especially commuters, are looking for a little extra boost in their ride, and while a few bikes come with small motors, the FlyKly Smart Wheel is a unique bike addition that has already raised four times as much money as its original Kickstarter goal. It’s designed to fit on almost any bicycle, and the motor, which takes two or three hours to completely charge, kicks in as a rider starts pedaling and cuts out upon stopping. The high-tech side of this product shows up in a mobile app that allows cyclists to lock the motor or track the bike if it gets stolen; it also lets riders set a top speed. It’ll even monitor the wheel and provide alerts when it’s time for maintenance.
OneC1TY Transforms Nashville With an ‘Education-Civic-Business Ecosystem’
Nashville’s 28th Avenue Connector may look like a simple urban development built to improve traffic. And while it is a major improvement, this innovation is building so much more for the community. The full site, called OneC1TY, over Centennial Park is bike-friendly and promotes walking too. It’s living up to its role as a “Connector” in more ways than one. For example, it’s joining educational institutions and the city’s medical district, promoting a sense of collaboration and the city’s “education-civic-business ecosystem.” The streetscape features bioswales to handle runoff, energy-efficient solar lighting, and locally-inspired art. As supporters have pointed out, it’s a “transformative example of the kind of development that a well-thought-out public infrastructure project” can create.
Oregon has an Indiegogo Campaign to Give Portlanders a Huge Off-Road Bike Park
Portlanders have been talking in their sustainable libraries and wheat grass shot-shops about building a big, new off-road bike park. The city, and state, listened. Oregon teamed up with Indiegogo, and is looking to raise $100,000 to turn 38 acres of unused earth into a bike utopia. This could be the beginning of a new era of infrastructure investment; crowdfunding is big, but the government hasn’t so much as dipped its toe in the communally-funded pool. Since the recession, budgets have been slashed, and infrastructure projects have been stalled. Oregon could pave the way for cities and states around the country to repair their bridges and bottom lines.
[Image: Build Gateway Green, Indiegogo]
$95 Device Lets You Charge Your Phone With Energy From Riding Your Bike
Engineers have created several ways for you to convert bicycle energy into power. But often, the options involve an expensive (and heavy) wheel buildout onto your bike. The Siva Cycle Atom is a generator that easily snaps onto your bike to charge electronic things like a phone, lights, and battery pack as you ride along. The website says, “We started Siva Cycle to transform the energy and passion of cycling into usable electricity for everyday.” They launched a successful Kickstarter campaign earlier this year to put the charger into production; the first round of chargers should reach people this month. The device not only represents a renewable energy solution for electronic devices, but also promotes a healthy lifestyle and helps reduce carbon emissions. Next time you need to recharge, consider grabbing your bike.
6 Steps for Building Better Bike Infrastructure
Bike-friendly towns are good for the environment, help keep citizens healthy and benefit the commercial sector. So why isn’t every city doing it? Well, the movement comes with some costs and risks, so it’s not an easy sell with all local governments. But the Transportation Commission of Missouri’s Chamber of Commerce’ may have found a way to advocate for statewide improvements in infrastructure. Check out the six key steps for success that the Missouri Bicycle & Pedestrian Federation followed, which provide a great example of smart, effective strategy for garnering support from local government.