The Institute for European Environmental Policy recently published a report entitled “Unfit for purpose: how car use fuels climate change and obesity.” According to the study, by adopting the exercise and car usage model of 30 years ago (which involves walking just one more hour during the week) British people could reduce the emissions from passenger cars by 15.4% and avoid an average weight gain of 2lbs 11 ounces per year. Time spent walking annually during this timespan has decreased from 67 hours per person to 47. Annual driving time has shot up from 91 hours to 151 hours per driver.
Transportation Alternatives reports that there is a correlation between obesity and transportation methods :
Hardly statistical science personified but there's logic there -- as you well know. Your gut,says so, I'm sure.
While I'm not laying down a guilt trip -- the whole question of being transported publicly has many ramifications. At some stage people have to decide to go public --and, pay some sort of personal price, for the commute shift.
I'm suggesting that it's something to be desired both environmentally and personally -- and our collective political task is to reduce the personal trade off in way of reducing costs and increasing convenience relative to other customized transportation options -- like owning, running and driving one's own car.
You will -- & the mass of the population will -- pay a price in way of individualised convenience when they decide to get out their cars and commute via public transport or travel by bicycle or proceed on shanks pony.
But the gains! Wow, the gains....
While I'm not laying down a guilt trip -- the whole question of being transported publicly has many ramifications. At some stage people have to decide to go public --and, pay some sort of personal price, for the commute shift.
I'm suggesting that it's something to be desired both environmentally and personally -- and our collective political task is to reduce the personal trade off in way of reducing costs and increasing convenience relative to other customized transportation options -- like owning, running and driving one's own car.
You will -- & the mass of the population will -- pay a price in way of individualised convenience when they decide to get out their cars and commute via public transport or travel by bicycle or proceed on shanks pony.
But the gains! Wow, the gains....
