Wednesday, December 21, 2011

Health Report Released for Lewis and Clark County

http://www.co.lewis-clark.mt.us/fileadmin/user_upload/Health/Documents/2011-health-assessment-insides.pdf

Herein lies this year's figures for residents of Lewis and Clark County. There is quite an extensive range of public health concerns addressed, which provide for some great insight into our health relative to the rest of Montana and the country. It is sobering that we score worse than many national averages on chronic diseases such as diabetes and heart disease. Furthermore, it is shocking to see just how many youth are lost each year in motor vehicle accidents (with or without the presence of alcohol) and other avoidable fatalities. This suggests a need for some introspection on the part of our communities to address root causes of these problems. It won't be easy to change ingrained norms (such as tacit acceptance of drinking while driving), but people do know the consequences of their lifestyle choices and for those wanting to improve their health, we should provide them with as many means to do so cheaply and conveniently.

Monday, December 12, 2011

Troubling News for Cyclists Across America

A new bill being pushed through Congress entitled "MAP-21," or Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century, has given cycling associations cause for concern. A Clause in the bill would disallow bicycles from roads with posted speed limits of 30 mph or greater on federal lands and relegate them to side paths. Furthermore, programs that encourage cycling such as Safe Routes to School would have their support cut. Read more about it here.

Friday, December 9, 2011

Bozeman Survey Reveals Surprising Level of Cycling

This article in the Bozeman Daily Chronicle brings to light some encouraging news on the state of cycling in Bozeman. This September, the Bozeman Area Bicycle Advisory Board (BABAB) hit the trails with surveys and returned with better figures than anticipated: 4,700 cyclists were counted! The surveys were conducted at 12 intersections for two-hour periods over three evening rush hours. When extrapolated, this data suggests that as many as 8,000 cyclists pass through the intersections on any given day. Numbers like these are a strong argument for constructing and maintaining bicycle lanes, shared roads and developing further non-motorized infrastructure. Consider this: the manufacture and transportation of a bicycle leaves a carbon footprint a fraction of the size of a car's. Bicycles don't run on fossil fuels, don't require insurance payments, cost less to maintain, provide excellent exercise, are easy to store, and present a far smaller safety liability than cars do.

Thursday, December 8, 2011

Making a Game of Public Transit

A new app is making the rounds in London as a way for public transit commuters to liven up their daily journeys. People can play as individuals or join teams, collecting points each time they use their transit cards to move through the turnstiles. Perhaps the most interesting feature is that the app stores your data so that you can track your movement around the city, encouraging you to discover new places or rethink your established transit routines. Check it out here.

Gas Mileage of the Future

The race is on to reach the gas mileage standard of 55 mpg by the year 2025. In this NPR article, we are taken to the labs at the Automotive Research Center at the University of Michigan to learn just how this will be accomplished, and the results are surprising. Much is being learned from rapidly developing new technologies such as electric battery power and computer regulated engines, but it turns out that fuel efficient cars have been around for years, and while there are still innovations being made to the traditional internal combustion engine, much of our mileage is reduced by the extra features of our cars, such as power windows, air conditioning, and power outlets for G.P.S. and music players. The question is, until the tinkering on engines is done, are people willing to give up their extra amenities to save money?