active living
New bike commuters hit the classroom, then the road
The rush of new cyclists, created by high gas prices, is driving up demand for bike safety classes. Read more >
Americans Fatter in 37 States
Millions of Americans are watching our countrymen compete in the Olympics. But fewer and fewer of us bear any resemblance to those lean, fit figures.
- Number of states in which adult obesity rates went up: 37
- Number of states in which adult obesity rates went down: 0
In Minnesota parents need to live more like their children who are displaying a low rate of obesity compared to the national average:
Obesity Rankings for Minnesota
- Adult: Rank, 30 -- 24.8% of adults obese
- Child: Rank, 47(tied with Idaho) -- 10.1% of children obese Read more >
AARP Complete Streets Poll
AARP Poll: Fighting Gas Prices, Nearly A Third of Americans Age 50+ Hang Up Their Keys To Walk But Find Streets Inhospitable, Public Transportation Inaccessible Read more >
Ciclovia spreading across US cities
They danced the tango in Portland, Ore., they're doing the samba in New York, and by the end of this month, they'll be dancing in the streets of San Francisco. It's urban planning with a Latin twist, a simple idea imported from South America for transforming the cityscape. Temporary street closures, or ciclovias, are sweeping across the US, as cities take a new look at alternative uses for their streets. Read more >
Smart Trips sends out free walking kits in Saint Paul
A friend of mine just received a free "smart trips" walking kit from the bike / walk advocacy group Saint Paul Smart Trips. The bag includes a pedometer, some beautiful maps of the Summit - University neighborhood, a coupon book, a reusable bag, and some other things I wasn't able to examine more closely.
It's a great idea, and the kind of thing that may help get more people out and enjoying the fine sidewalks of Saint Paul this summer.
[Smart Trips press release, and photo of the kit, after the jump] Read more >
Do Electric Bikes Promise to Bring Bicycling to the Masses?
Here's a good review of the electric assist Gazelle bicycle from the Netherlands. Could bikes like this bring bicycles to a whole new groups of people? In other words, would my mother ride this bike? - You still need to pedal but the battery helps. The electric bike is all the rage on Dutch cycle paths this summer, and enthusiasts have nothing but praise for it. "This invention deserves a Nobel prize." Read more >
Cities: A Smart Alternative to Cars
Creating compact communities—and eliminating the need to drive everywhere—may be the best way to slash greenhouse gas emissions from vehicles Read more >
Paint the pavement!
Sometimes a little paint can go a long way towards calming traffic ... Read more >
The World's Most Advanced Engine
This is an advertisement - but this video, published by exercise clothing manufacturer Pearl Izumi, is very good.
(Please click on a comment to go to the full post to which it refers)