We've engineered physical activity out of our daily lives but it need not be a chronic condition. Hazel Borys points to recent suburban retrofits for ways to get moving again.
"A few months ago, we talked about how a great city can be like a great running buddy, calling us to venture outdoors into more active, satisfying lifestyles. The photo-essay accompanying that conversation was on the urbanity of Wilmington, North Carolina. Last week, we were in another North Carolina town, Fuquay-Varina, working to create just those sorts of tightly-gridded, walkable streets connecting convivial, complete neighborhoods. Then perhaps the temptation to walk, bike, and run can overcome the lethargy of our modern lifestyle."
"This time around, there wasn’t the deeply satisfying urbanism found in Wilmington within running distance from our hotel. Instead, I found a kind and interesting Town leader to run with me in the mornings, so the company and results were well worth the effort. However, 'once around the block' was three miles, so clearly not the ideal walkable place."
Borys goes on to discuss methods for repairing, regenerating, and restoring “transit repellent” and "active lifestyle repellent” patterns into walkable, runable, bikeable places.
FULL STORY: Healthy, or Unhealthy, by Design
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