Daphne Bramham Discusses Walking as One Simple Solution

'Want to live longer? Build walking into your routine' is the title of Bramhams's piece in the Vancouver Sun, October 5th 2011
http://www.vancouversun.com/health/Want+live+longer+Build+walking+into+your+routine/5504492/story.html

Excerpts include these statements:
It seems almost absurdly simple, but walking might just save the world, as well as make us healthier, happier and allow us to live longer.

To encourage physical activity means putting pedestrians first.

Cars have so altered the way cities are planned that "it's arguable that zoning is now health averse," said Larry Frank, a professor at the University of B.C.'s school of community and regional planning. One of his studies found that for every hour spent in a car, there's a six-per-cent increase in the likelihood that you'll be obese.


What makes a walkable city? It's not one single thing, Sallis found after studying 11 different countries. It's the combination of higherdensity housing, sidewalks, proximity to shops, transit and recreational facilities.

With all of those, regardless of the country, Sallis found people were twice as likely to meet the minimum physical activity guidelines.

dbramham@vancouversun.com

Sallis's research is available at http://www.drjamessallis.sdsu.edu/  or at activelivingresearch.org

 Larry Frank's research is available at http://www.act-trans.ubc.ca/