Radio Commentary
Just a few generations ago, in the 1950s
and ’60s, half of all children bicycled or walked to school. Today, only one in
10 does.
In
fact, even among school-age children who live within two miles of school, only about
two percent ride bicycles to get there.
These
figures have implications for health, fitness, and safety.
The
Santa Barbara Bicycle Coalition cites several major reasons for the decline:
• As
we widened roads for cars, we decreased safety for bikers and walkers, leading
to a lack of space for children to walk and bike safely.
• Excessive media stories about the dangers of
child abductions, gun violence, drugs, and other real-but-overblown-concerns
add to a sense of danger and worry for parents.
The truth is that automobiles are by far
a bigger threat to children than all these other potential threats combined.
• With
both parents working, for longer hours, many try to compensate through the
perceived ‘gift’ of driving children around.
These
changes have contributed to increased rates of obesity among young people.
They
have also helped foster a loss of independence that comes from bicycling.
As was the case with recycling and
smoking, it will take changes of awareness and attitude to change this condition.
We should all try to help.
