New study links bike commuting, healthier people

New research published in the medical journal, Archives of Internal Medicine, indicates that people who ride their bicycles or walk to work are healthier than those who drive or take public transportation.

The study, published by the journal in its July 13 edition, reports that participants who bicycle or walk to work are more fit and less fat.

Unfortunately, slightly less than 17 percent of the more than 2,000 adult commuters surveyed in the study said they ride their bikes or walk to work, even part of the way. Researchers who led the study at the University of North Carolina’s Gillings School of Global Public Health said getting more people to “commute actively” requires reducing environmental barriers to make biking and walking safer.

Penny Gordon-Larsen, the study’s lead researcher, told the Associated Press that environmental barriers – including a lack of bike paths, crumbling sidewalks and long commute distances – keep Americans from active commuting by bike or foot and in their cars.

The research is yet another indicator of how the Ohio River Trail project – connecting downtown Cincinnati to Lunken Airport and eventually the Little Miami Bike Trail – can benefit the region.

The study included adult commuters in Chicago, Minneapolis, Birmingham, Ala., and Oakland, Calif. During examinations conducted between 2005 and 2006, participants reported the length of their commute in minutes and miles, including details on the percentage of the trip taken by car, public transportation, walking or bicycling.

Researchers also recorded the participants’ height, weight and other health variables, including blood pressure and fitness levels as assessed by a treadmill test. In addition, subjects wore an accelerometer to measure their levels of physical activity during at least four days of the study period. The average length of active commuters’ trips was 20 minutes for men and 17 minutes for women.

Previous research has shown that nations with higher levels of biking and walking have lower obesity levels. Only a small amount of research has been conducted analyzing the health of Americans of commute to work by bike or foot.

Bicycle Events of Note

Bike/PAC will have its monthly meeting on Monday, June 8 at 7 p.m. at City Hall. The featured speaker this month is Councilmember Laketa Cole. Councilmember Cole is chair of the city's Neighborhood Development Committee and will discuss the role of bicycle transportation in neighborhood development. This event is free and open to the public.

The Mercantile Library will host an event called Complete Streets on Tuesday, June 9 at 6 p.m. This event will feature Councilmember Roxanne Qualls and Clete Benken, ASLA and Principal of
Kinzelman Kline Gossman. The program is $8 for Mercantile Library and Architectural Foundation members; $10 for others. Reservations required. RSVP by June 5th at 513.621.0717 or mercantileinfo@mercantilelibrary.com

Your Ohio Ride Schedule

So, have you figured out what rides you're going to do this summer? Whether you want to hit the trails or the road, this guide has something for you.

Open publication - Free publishing - More ohio

Update from Friends of the Little Miami State Park

We have exciting news and a unique opportunity. With your help, we can pave 11 of the 15 trail bridges in the Little Miami State Park, redeck the remaining 4 bridges, and smooth out the 20 "patches" south of Morrow!

Since its founding less than 6 months ago on November 16, 2008, FLMSP has been unwavering in its commitment to improving trail safety. While, as an organization, we're moving on several fronts (e.g. Adopt-a-Trail, Trail Sentinel program, pipe-safes, etc.), trail safety has always been our number one priority. That's the reason we purchased 32 new oak boards to replace the rotten boards on several bridges.

Having replaced many boards, we all know that the ultimate solution is to pave over all of the wooden bridges. Paving eliminates uneven and rotten boards together with the associated slime mould. In fact, we've priced ChipSealing (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chipseal) for three "rivet-head" bridges just south of Xenia and were quoted $21K. For an organization with $3,600 in the bank, this was clearly out of our reach.

But our advocacy for the trail and our persistence has paid dividends. At our 3rd Public Meeting on April 26, five representatives from Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) and Ohio State Parks were in attendance:

* John Hunter, ODNR Division of Parks & Recreation, Assistant Chief
* Tim Carr, Ohio State Parks, Regional Manager Cowan Lake Region
* Jim Henehan, Ohio State Parks, Manager Community Partnerships Program
* Gus Smithhisler, ODNR, Division of Engineering
* Alan Ferguson, Ohio State Parks, Park Manager for Little Miami State Park

At the Public Meeting, FLMSP president Simeon Copple was very clear about both our accomplishments and our goals. On Monday May 4 we had a follow-up meeting with representatives from Ohio State Parks and on Thursday May 21 we were informed that:

* Ohio State Parks has secured a contractor to pave 11 of the 15 bridges for $22,150.
* ODNR and Ohio State Parks have committed $18,160 in funding for this project --- if FLMSP provides the remaining $3,990. With only $3,600 in the bank, this means that FLMSP has an immediate need to raise $390.

However, the FLMSP Board is of the opinion that we should set our fundraising target at $7,000 for the reasons below:

* Remediate (i.e. smooth out) the 20 "patches" south of Morrow by using infrared technology to reheat the "patches" and then rework/reroll them --- $3,423.
* Replace rotten boards on the Lake Remington (mile marker 46.0), Bear Run at Foster (mile marker 38.0), and Spring Valley (mile marker 6.0) bridges --- $1,427.
* Anticipate future expenses for trail signage, pipe-safe locks, Adopt-a-Trail equipment and hand tools, etc. --- $2,150.

As an organization, we've come very far in a short period of time and we have before us a very real opportunity to make a significant contribution to the safety of the Little Miami State Park. No one wants to hear of anyone else air-lifted from the trail or taken away in an ambulance.

Therefore, our objective is to raise $7,000 in the next 30 days. How can you help?

* Become a member, e.g. individual, family, association, or corporation.
* Make an outright gift in cash, check, or credit card.
* Make a pledge of "x" dollars for "y" period of time, e.g. $100 a month for 3 months, $100 a quarter for four quarters.
* Introduce FLMSP to any decision makers within any benevolent organizations, foundations, clubs, etc.
* Publicize our appeal to all media outlets that you know of.
* Express your thanks directly to Alan Ferguson, Manager Little Miami State Park Alan.Ferguson@dnr.state.oh.us.

If you want to introduce any new people to our organization, please forward this e-mail to them and direct them to our web site www.FLMSP.org --- which will be THE place to get updated information as this project progresses. As for making a donation, simply go to www.FLMSP.org and make an online Mastercard or Visa donation.

We believe the cause is right. We've worked hard to make sure the price is right. And there's power in numbers --- if each of the 282 people on our email list gave just $25, we'd raise $7,050. We hope you agree and can find a way to help.

If our fundraising efforts are successful, we've been assured the work will be completed by the July 4th weekend.

Sincerely,

Steve Murphy
Vice President
Friends of the Little Miami State Park
vicepresident@flmsp.org

Why I Support the Ohio River Trail: Don Mills

For the 30 plus years I used biking as cross training for racquet sports. Street biking seemed a little bit too hazardous, so I started using the Little Miami Scenic Trail.

Being a long time resident of Terrace Park, I was embarrassed by the community's blockage of the continuation of the LMST through "The Park". Upon my retirement in 1999 I undertook to facilitate the extension of the LMST through "The Park".

Subsequently I became involved with the Ohio River Way and its goal to extend recreational trails 25 miles east and west of Cincinnati along the Ohio River. In order to accomplish the aforementioned goal it was first necessary to connect the LMST to downtown Cincinnati, then New Richmond, then to Lawrenceburg and finally to Maysville.

It became apparent that the proposed trail next to the Ohio River was not realistic is my lifetime and an alternate route seemed a more likely solution - the dormant Oasis railroad line. After many hours of talking and walking with various government officials The Ohio River Way became convinced that this was the best solution for the good of Cincinnati. Thus the Ohio River Trail plan we know today was born.

Please support The Ohio River Trail.

-- Don Mills

Building a path to a healthier, wealthier Cincinnati

Greenbelt trails aren’t just for fun anymore.

Research data and case studies point to greenway trail systems helping create healthier and wealthier communities. That’s a big deal for cities like greater Cincinnati seeking a competitive edge to lure new tourists, businesses and residents, especially those highly coveted young professionals.

Studies provide ample evidence that suggests completing the Ohio River Trail between downtown Cincinnati and Lunken Airport – and its eventual links to a much broader regional trail system – would be big plus for Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky.

Make no mistake, bike/hike trails are still fun. Fun is why trails have such a magnetic quality, one that attracts people, gets them out and gets them moving. It’s one reason so many CEOs say trails and similar quality of life amenities are important considerations when selecting business locations. Livable communities make it easier to recruit and retain hard-to-find talent, something that can go right to the bottom line of a financial statement.

Show me the money

Anyone looking for information about the economic benefits of what’s called green infrastructure, especially trail systems, only need surf the internet to uncover an abundance of examples. A few worth noting include:

The state of North Carolina invested $6.7 million to widen bike lanes, build off-road trails and improve bike friendly infrastructure along its Outer Banks coastal region. The state estimates its public investment has generated an additional $60 million a year in tourism-related revenues. That’s an almost 900 percent return on initial investment – every year.

Between 1975 and 2006, the city of Minneapolis invested $86 million of public funding in its downtown scenic byways district along the Mississippi River, generating $1.5 billion private investment and 20,000 new residents.

In Denver, an $80 million public investment in greenway trails and related green space resulted in $5 billion worth of private investment.

A University of Cincinnati study in 2008 showed the average sale price of a property decreases in value by $7.05 for every foot in distance it rests from a bike trail. In other words, being closer to the Little Miami Scenic trail adds to the value of single family residential properties.

Power to the People – Ride On!

Then there are the health benefits of peddle power. Those benefits are especially important in a country fighting an obesity epidemic and grappling with a healthcare system about to collapse under the weight of its own costs. According to the National Center for Health Statistics, more than 34 percent of Americans are obese and 32.7 percent are overweight.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control includes bike trails as a central component of its scoring system and recommendations for what denotes healthy communities and healthful urban design.

A few quick examples of medical studies on the benefits of trails and active green space include:

A 2005 study in the Journal of Health Promotion Practice showed that in Lincoln, Nebraska, every $1 spent on trails produced $3 in public health benefits. One of the primary benefits identified by the study was the reduction of health care costs associated with inactivity.

A 2008 study in the American Journal of Health Promotion on green space and trails showed an association between living in greener neighborhoods and a reduced risk of being overweight among children between the ages of 3 and 18.

Another study in the American Journal of Health Promotion published in 2005 showed an association between the amount of green space and trails in a community and the degree to which people walk or ride their bicycles for daily transportation needs. Higher amounts of park acreage, for example, led to higher activity levels for walking and cycling.

A 2006 study in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health reports the percentage of green space in people’s living environment has a positive association with the perceived general health of residents. The study went on to conclude that green space and related amenities are more than a luxury and that they should be included in any community planning policy.

If you are interested in helping put Greater Cincinnati on the path to a healthier, wealthier future, please visit www.ohiorivertail.com for more information, or to contribute.

-- Nick Miller

A Trail for Your Commute

So I am riding my bike one day on Riverside Drive on the way over towards Lunken Airport from downtown. Wow! Is this road busy during commute time for drivers! Drivers, caffeine induced, trying to get to work and at times some are late. I have been one of them. I have nothing against people traveling to work, we need them! But.....it is hard to see all of the cyclists and runners, especially when the sun is just coming up over the horizon.

Wouldn’t it be nice to get off this road? Well that’s what the final 4 miles of the Ohio River Trail, so called THE FINAL LINK will do for us.

A friend showed me some pictures of the rail that the new recreational trail will eventually reside. I walked part of it after the ride, and I couldn’t believe in some sections, that I was actually near the road or near downtown. What a fantastic views between Riverside Drive (below) and Columbia Parkway (above) as you travel down the river.

So we have some work to do. First, we need money to build the trail, private funds to go along with the public funds to create this great FINAL LINK, which when done will stretch all the way from Newtown to downtown. Over 75% of the cost will come from Federal, State and local funds, with the City of Cincinnati kicking in a great grant to support the project. We have the support of our Mayor and City Council. Yeah!

Now we just need to get through this economic downturn, raise some money and soon we will be able to enjoy a first class recreational trail. And oh by the way, after it is down there are plans to link the Sawyer Point area to trails being developed in Northern Kentucky too!

So join me in being a part of THE FINAL LINK!

-- Dave Szkutak