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Cities where people walk and cycle are healthier and richer.
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brat
Posts: 2,533 Forumite
http://road.cc/content/news/154393-cities-where-people-walk-and-cycle-are-healthier-and-richer
As if we didn't know!
"Cities with more physically active residents are financially healthier too, a study has found, with benefits being higher property values, economic productivity levels and school performance.
Where walking, cycling and public transport are prevalent, the University of California study has found, there is a return of £13 for every £1 invested in these projects."
We really do need to redress the balance, for the sake of our health and wealth.
As if we didn't know!
"Cities with more physically active residents are financially healthier too, a study has found, with benefits being higher property values, economic productivity levels and school performance.
Where walking, cycling and public transport are prevalent, the University of California study has found, there is a return of £13 for every £1 invested in these projects."
We really do need to redress the balance, for the sake of our health and wealth.
Make everything as simple as possible, but not simpler.
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Comments
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True although that's where the problem lies, I'll admit I wouldn't have been that convinced before I started cycling which I only did initially to avoid DPF issues on the car. At first I admit cycling seemed a hassle compared to the car but when the bike was off the road for repair that I realised how much I liked the bike, no worrying about traffic or parking regardless of the time of day.
The more I've cycled, the more you see how it sorts a lot of issues particularly in a time when city centres are too congested, roads are wearing down quicker than budgets allow for repair, pollution is reaching dangerous levels, rising fuel costs and increasing health issues due to lack of exercise.
This was an interesting experiment to function without cars in a neighbourhood:
http://www.fastcoexist.com/3045836/heres-what-happened-when-a-neighborhood-decided-to-ban-cars-for-a-month
John0 -
It's a pity UK cities aren't like Groningen. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=cWf5fbSUNAg0
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Trouble is London is a mish mash of narrow streets, stupid parking areas and so polluted a gas mask would struggle. Get it cleaned up, make cycle routes proper and safe and !!!!!! get rid of Finsbury Park, Kings Cross, Elephant and Castle and Waterloo areas and start from scratch. Oh and make Boris bikes free for 6 months so non-cyclists can get experience. Oh 2, give free road awareness courses to cyclists (and motorists) old and new.:cool:0
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Trouble is London is a mish mash of narrow streets...
I've often thought that some of the narrow streets could be made one-way for cars with the "oncoming" lane converted to a (two-way) cycle path... It'd be great to be able to ride away from trunk roads (and I'm sure even car drivers would like that!).0 -
I wonder if the rider should be added 'in first world countries' or whether the argument can be extended to the third world?
I do tend to have doubts about research done by Californian 'academics'0 -
You're probably right, although the original research paper is headed "Making the Case for Designing Active Cities". The Roadcc/ Guardian headline, which is also the thread heading, will be tailored to its first world readership.I wonder if the rider should be added 'in first world countries' or whether the argument can be extended to the third world?
The research ES is here.
The full paper is here. http://activelivingresearch.org/sites/default/files/MakingTheCaseReport.pdfI do tend to have doubts about research done by Californian 'academics'
and a peer reviewed paper is also available.
I don't think there's any doubt that walking and cycling is better for your health, wealth and quality of life than feeling compelled (through various pressures or lack of fitness) to use the motor car.
This research looked in part to quantify those benefits, which in turn should be of value in assisting city and town planners and developers make their case for the prioritisation of good cycling and pedestrian infrastructure.Make everything as simple as possible, but not simpler.0 -
Trouble is London is a mish mash of narrow streets, stupid parking areas and so polluted a gas mask would struggle. Get it cleaned up, make cycle routes proper and safe and !!!!!! get rid of Finsbury Park, Kings Cross, Elephant and Castle and Waterloo areas and start from scratch. Oh and make Boris bikes free for 6 months so non-cyclists can get experience. Oh 2, give free road awareness courses to cyclists (and motorists) old and new.:cool:
What is needed is to separate cyclists from cars/buses. Then it becomes safe to cycle in a city and more and more people will do it.
Look at this before and after photo of a street in Amsterdam. The problem is that it requires political will to inconvenience car drivers. It can be done - go to Copenhagen or numerous other cities in Europe. They are no younger than London, they have all sorts of narrow streets and alleyways, but they managed it.
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About 7 years ago they closed our town's main shopping thoroughfare to most traffic. Only taxis buses and cyclists are allowed through now, and all must give way to pedestrians as the road is now classed as a 'pedestrian zone'
Traffic doesn't seem any busier elsewhere, and the town centre has added vitality, and the opportunity to host fetes and other events in the pedestrian zone that was not possible before. It feels much cleaner, and the sound of the town has changed from traffic noise to chatter. There's still a lot of work to be done to make the town more cycle friendly, a decent by pass would help, but it's a work in progress.
We need research such as this to further empower those who have the vision and enthusiasm to drive change.Make everything as simple as possible, but not simpler.0 -
What is needed is to separate cyclists from cars/buses. Then it becomes safe to cycle in a city and more and more people will do it.
Look at this before and after photo of a street in Amsterdam. The problem is that it requires political will to inconvenience car drivers. It can be done - go to Copenhagen or numerous other cities in Europe. They are no younger than London, they have all sorts of narrow streets and alleyways, but they managed it.
And the photo on the right shows a cyclist in the car lane riding against the traffic.;) (Couldn't resist.)
Pollution also has to be tackled. You only have to walk down some city streets and you end up gasping for breath. For London it really is a health hazard.0 -
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