FABB Blog

 

Transportation is a public health issue

Few kids today walk or bike to school. One consequence is that kids are getting less exercise than they used to. Instead of encouraging kids to bike to school we've built "kiss and ride" lots that encourages parents to drive their kids to school. The school system spends a great deal of money ensuring that kids either have a safe walking route or can take the bus, paid for by everyone whether they have kids or not. Parents still drive their kids to school. See our previous blog posts on this topic.

USDOT Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood understands that Transportation is a public health issue. He's trying to make sure that our transportation policies don't have a negative impact on our public health in part by ensuring that all modes are on an equal footing. Actions to foster motorized travel shouldn't negatively impact other modes.

Here are a few quotes from his recent blog about a conference on this issue, "Keeping Kids Moving: "32% of children in the US are overweight or obese." and "This could be the first generation in America to live sicker and die younger than their parents."

Labels: safe routes to school

posted by Bruce Wright at 9:40 PM permalink