The Transportation Bill Could Slim Us Down

Investing beyond highways could make America healthier, writes David Goldberg. "America's auto-only lifestyle clearly has a role, as other academic research is beginning to show. An intensive study of Atlanta residents by Dr. Larry Frank, a professor in urban transportation systems at the University of British Columbia, showed that time spent in the car is among the strongest predictors of being overweight. Dr. Frank's research found that men living in spread out or sprawling areas were heavier than those who lived in compact, walkable neighborhoods... And from a policy perspective, federal funds should go only to build 'complete streets,' those designed to safely accommodate cars, bikes, and pedestrians. And because experience shows that community input almost always leads to more neighborhood-friendly projects, Congress must resist any pressure to 'streamline' the public out of the planning process."