Research shows that students who bike to school are more physically fit than their peers, and they're more mentally focused during the school day. With the school year beginning and childhood obesity skyrocketing, programs supporting and expanding safe bike routes to school should be a national priority, says Tim Blumenthal, president of Peopleforbikes.org .
Forty years ago, 48 percent of U.S. children biked or walked to school. Today, just 12 percent of children arrive at school by bike or on foot. During this period, U.S. childhood obesity tripled, while the number of children driven to school increased nearly 400 percent, also adding to debilitating morning and afternoon road congestion coast to coast.
Twenty-five million U.S. children and adolescents, more than 33 percent, are now considered overweight or obese, or at risk of becoming so. Health care costs for childhood obesity are estimated at $14 billion each year, and Americans spend $150 billion a year treating obesity-related illnesses. Children who bie develop healthy routines to help them reach their full potential, and maintain those habits for life.
Children who bike or walk to school are also more likely to be alert and engaged in classwork throughout the day than kids who are driven. According to studies published by the University of Illinois, fitter kids performed better on standardized tests and had more developed areas of the brain that control attention span and complex memory.
"Kids have enjoyed biking for generations, but in today's sedentary culture, it is more important than ever for children to ride to school. Bicycling provides daily physical activity when gym classes are being cut from schools," said Tim Blumenthal, president of Peopleforbikes.org , the nation's largest unified bicycling movement.
Find Solutions for Enterprises, SMBs & Service Providers at The World’s Communications Conference, ITEXPO West. September 13-15, 2011 Austin, Texas
Find Solutions for Enterprises, SMBs & Service Providers at The World’s Communications Conference, ITEXPO West. September 13-15, 2011 Austin, Texas
Find Solutions for Enterprises, SMBs & Service Providers at The World’s Communications Conference, ITEXPO West. September 13-15, 2011 Austin, Texas
Find Solutions for Enterprises, SMBs & Service Providers at The World’s Communications Conference, ITEXPO West. September 13-15, 2011 Austin, Texas
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