1.1K
What if we labeled unwalkable neighborhoods “unsafe” like we do with cigarettes? Ten percent of preventable deaths are due to lack of physical activity, but cities still prioritize vehicles over pedestrians.
Fortunately, there’s a new government initiative working to end this. The U.S. Surgeon General recently launched the campaign “Step It Up!,” which encourages walking and includes a call to action to improve our neighborhoods’ walkability. Safer crosswalks, more sidewalks and improved green spaces are all on the agenda.
For the sake of public health, these kinds of initiatives are needed to reverse people’s automatic selection of cars for transportation.
