Representative Eleanor Norton Holmes View on Flickr.com
Yesterday, I went to the unveiling of Partnership for Active Transportation (@ActiveTranspo)’s Safe Routes to Everywhere: Building Healthy Places for Healthy People Through Active Transportation Networks. I have volunteered to represent Kaiser Permanente on the Partnership’s Advisory Board. And why wouldn’t I/we? I have the #activetransportation tagged photos to prove my enthusiasm.
Right now, 11% of trips in the United States happen via walking, an additional 1% happen via bicycle. In Copenhagen, the number is 30% by bicycle. At some level, from what I have read/learned/discussed/collaborated, I feel we are not going to pedometer / fitness band our way out of this. We have to change the community conditions around us, so that when a physician does prescribe physical activity, their patients are capable of doing it in their communities.
The report was warmly received by Representative Eleanor Norton Holmes (@EleanorNorton), as well as Representative Tom Petri as well as partners including the American Public Health Association (@PublicHealth)
In the lead-up to the announcement, I asked Kevin Mills, Vice President of Policy and Trail Development for Rails to Trails about the history of the term “active transportation”, which is defined as:
“Active transportation” is a means of getting around that is powered by human energy, primarily walking and bicycling. Often called “non-motorized transportation,” we prefer the term “active transportation” since it is a more positive statement that expresses the key connection between healthy, active living and our transportation choices.”
…and the fact that I’ve noticed that not a lot of people know the term…yet.
He told me it’s absolutely ready to become part of our national conversation about health, and encourages me in my quest to make #activetransportation hashtag of the year (it’s in my Center for Total Health New Year’s Resolution – documented in blog: New Years Resolutions from the CTH Team | Kaiser Permanente Center for Total Health )
So let’s do it. Whenever you’re walking or bicycling (if you’re wearing Google Glass), just tag your photo #activetransportation – it’s a great way to reflect on how much more you get to “see” when you’re focused on the journey as much as the destination.
Photos from the unveiling are below.