I can not believe that most of the cities in southeast Texas do not have sidewalks! They wonder why some american’s are obese. Well, if they would build fewer fast food restaurant’s and more sidewalks. Than maybe, just maybe some american’s would loose a little weight. Plus if driver’s would remember that if someone is walking to move over or slow down a little.
People are fat because they dont exercise. Walking is better than nothing but walking is about the bare bones minimum least effective type of exercise there is. Unless you walk 7-10 miles per day, then youre better off just have a good marathon sex session.
What about joining a gym and really exercising? What about getting on a bicycle and biking through the neighborhood? Jumping rope? I mean sidewalks, really.
I am saying some people are fat, because they jump in their car and go thru the drive thru at McDonald’s. Sidewalks help pertect people from all the Texans that want to drive 110 mph.
Walking is, as you say, better than nothing, but you are also correct that it isn’t much exercise. UNLESS it is truly a part of your lifestyle. Its like there’s a “critical mass” of walking, and once you hit it, it begins to be pretty effective.
Just look at the people in a walkable city like New York or San Francisco. There are a LOT fewer obese people. Its hugely noticeable to me. Its not that these people are magically more inclined to go to the gym. Its the fact that these people use a combination of walking and mass transit to get everywhere most people drive. Walking a mile or two is no biggie, but when you start to walk that far (or further!) nearly every day of your life, it adds up.
Course the problem with the OP’s post is that adding sidewalks doesn’t make a place walkable. Cities in Texas are, by and large, spread out and sprawly, so a “walking lifestyle” isn’t really an option. Given that, I’m still pro-sidewalk, but I’d recommend running on them rather than walking. That’s the other point where I’ll respectfully disagree, DaBeez . Sidewalks are important, as are bike paths, running trails, and other infrastructure that enables outdoor fitness. A lot of people can’t afford a gym, a lot of people just don’t like the gym, but some of those same people are willing to run or bike or skate outside. I love to hit the gym, for lifting, but not so much for cardio – I prefer cycling for that. I know when I look at a place to live, access to things like bike trails is a pretty important to me. Sidewalks are another part of that equation.
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