Why are bike and pedestrian pathways important?
Public Health While a complex range of factors contributes to the epidemic of obesity, increasing attention is turning to how the places we live, work and play affect public health and our ability to be physically active. From elevators and drive-thru restaurants to cul-de-sac suburbs and strip malls, opportunities for routine physical activity have been steadily engineered out of many parts of American life. More than 70% of NY State adults do not meet the recommended levels of physical activity, and over 50% of the State’s adults are overweight or obese. Inactivity costs $3 billion in New York State. Just a 5% increase in physical activity rates would save NY taxpayers $150 million. Mobility Concerns More than one in five (21%) Americans age 65 and older do not drive and more than 50% of non-drivers age 65 and older – or 3.6 million Americans – stay home on any given day partially because they lack transportation options. Older non-drivers have a decreased ability to participate in t
