Comments on: More proof that kids need exercise!

By: Alan Barta

Alan Barta — Thu, 29 May 2008 04:57:29 +0000

Mark:
Obviously not! I’ve encouraged adults to bike for a decade. It mixes aerobics with transportation. You get what us older folk had when we were kids… before bussing to school we walked and biked. You don’t need stats to support your claim that childhood obesity is an epidemic. It’s right on the CDC’s website.

But after suffering a armed attack one week ago on the supposedly safe West Bay Bike Path, it’s apparent that you need a balanced program of “complete streets”, law enforcement, parole policy changes, police patrols, and proper lighting. The current statistics on bike path crime are frightening. They found a girl dead on the Blackstone Bikeway. People outright fear the Northwest Trail (Woonasquatucket). It obviously won’t stop me personally. For years I’ve been trying to address the issues of fear and inconvenience that deters most adults from bike commuting, only to realize that crime has become a central issue in a state with only 49% employment.

I posted elsewhere on ghost bikes I used to place, but in Cranston and Providence they were either removed instantly or stomped flat. You’ve forgotten dozens of instances, notably Frank Cabral of Warwick, who was overtaken by an SUV and killed last September in Charlestown on the wide shoulder of Rt 1.

By: Mark

Mark — Thu, 29 May 2008 02:50:20 +0000

Alan, are you saying that we should quit encouraging kids to get more exercise? And your reasoning for this is based on fear of criminals? I for one refuse to let the criminals have such control over my life. Yes, I have some concerns for the safety of my kids, but I refuse to live my life in fear and plan to do everything I can to support their interests and help them maintain an active lifestyle. Part of this is going to be riding a bike, perhaps that will just mean I end up putting more miles on my bike with them!

Obesity is a serious problem in this country. While I have no data to back this up, I’d surly wager that kids who are obese have a significantly higher chance of remaining obese through adulthood than non-obese kids have of becoming obese in adulthood.

By: Alan Barta

Alan Barta — Sun, 25 May 2008 17:37:26 +0000

When they start rounding up pedophiles and stop releasing mental patients and violent offenders because of prison overcrowding, this will encourage parents to again allow children to go out and safely play. Revoking more licenses to drive among people incapable of doing so within legal limits is another appropriate measure. Until then, quit urging victims to act in their own worst interests.

By: scott shaffer

scott shaffer — Tue, 20 May 2008 18:29:31 +0000

Pink ribbons identify the fight against breast cancer. Yellow bracelets symbolize cancer research fundraising.

Fighting childhood obesity now has its own unique symbol for awareness and fundraising, the Do Tag.

Monkee Do’s cute monkee on a shoe tag sends the right message of “DO”ing to kids and adults. It also establishes an identifiable symbol for childhood obesity fundraising and awareness.

To see the foundations participating in the Do Tag Project, please visit http://www.TheDoTag.com