{"id":43476,"date":"2013-05-29T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2013-05-29T05:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.unmc.edu\/newsroom\/2013\/05\/29\/wellness-wednesday-the-arithmetic-of-cycling\/"},"modified":"2013-05-29T00:00:00","modified_gmt":"2013-05-29T05:00:00","slug":"wellness-wednesday-the-arithmetic-of-cycling","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.unmc.edu\/newsroom\/2013\/05\/29\/wellness-wednesday-the-arithmetic-of-cycling\/","title":{"rendered":"Wellness Wednesday – The arithmetic of cycling"},"content":{"rendered":"

\nAccording to the U.S. Department of Transportation, non-motorized transportation (i.e. walking and biking) as a percentage of trips has declined by nearly 50 percent since the 1970s. Over that same time period, the prevalence of obesity in Americans has tripled. Experts are predicting children born today will live shorter lives than their parents' generation. The diagnosis of Type II diabetes is increasing at unprecedented rates. We are becoming a significantly sicker society. Problems like global climate change, environmental pollution and urban congestion continue to worsen. Could riding a bicycle be a simple solution to some of these complex problems? It can combat climate change, ease urban congestion, build physical fitness and decrease the risk of developing chronic diseases. The bicycle is the most efficient form of human transportation. One hundred calories can propel a car 280 feet but it can power a cyclist for 3 miles. Cyclists are also fueled by a renewable energy source instead of burning limited fossil fuels. Some facts,<\/a> courtesy of www.fastcodesign.com:<\/p>\n