BikeWalkLee: Ride don't sit

This week's BWL column reviews research on the dangers of sitting...and encourages you to walk and cycle more and sit less. 
 BikeWalkLee Column in News-Press "Go Coastal" section, Sept. 18, 2014

If you're reading this, you might not want to sit down.

There's a growing mantra that "sitting is the new smoking." Don't dismiss it out of hand as more alarmist rhetoric. One of the people making such a comparison was cardiologist Martha Grogan, who said: "For people who sit most of the day, their risk of heart attack is about the same as smoking."

How bad is it? Consider this (as compiled by Active):
• In a typical day, by the time you add up sleeping, working, watching TV, computer time, meal time and commuting time, an average American could log up to 22 hours of inactivity.
• Two hours of sitting is as harmful as 20 minutes of exercise is beneficial.
• A university study concluded that up to 20 percent of deaths of people over age 35 could be attributed to the lack of physical activity.
• Prolonged sitting increases your risk for the aforementioned cardiovascular disease, colon cancer, muscular disorders, headaches, back pain, obesity, weight gain and diabetes.
• Some 70 percent or full-time U.S. workers hate sitting, but they do it anyway.

Those who sit but exercise may think we have less to worry about. Not so. If being fit means getting 60 minutes of exercise a day (a pretty high standard for most) and the rest of your day entails sitting, that one hour of action doesn't undo all the other inaction. That's why many people use those activity wristbands not when they're exercising, but when they're not – to track how much activity they undertake in their normal lives, when the real damage can be done.

Which brings us to the point: If sitting is bad for you, stop sitting so much. Get on your bike and ride, or put on your shoes and walk (or run or hike or dance or just move, you get the idea). Studies have shown that in places where biking and walking are relatively high, obesity and related health issues are relatively low. Other research ties walking or cycling to work with positive psychological effects, releasing endorphins to blast the blues in a somewhat direct correlation to the number of steps taken – so walk longer to be happier!

That's why we encourage people to try to incorporate biking and walking into their daily lives rather than just making it something you do at a special time and place. That's why it's important that we as a community support more bike-able and walkable facilities, both in what gets built as well as what's already in place – so having a safe place to bike or walk isn't the impediment to more movement.

And that's why it's important for groups such as Healthy Lee, Lee Memorial, the Dept. of Health, Streets Alive and the many other related efforts to push the connection between a more active Lee County and a healthier Lee County. People, politicians and businesses need to see the tie between health, the bottom line and a better quality of life for our community.

In the meantime, don't just sit there – move!

— BikeWalkLee is a community coalition raising public awareness and advocating for complete streets in Lee County—streets that are designed, built, operated and maintained for safe and convenient travel for all users: pedestrians, bicyclists, motorists, and transit riders of all ages and abilities. Information, statistics and background online at BikeWalkLee.org.

Upcoming events
Running/walking:
· Sunday Oct. 11: Fort Myers Cops and Joggers 5K. Centennial Park, downtown Fort Myers. Race starts at 7:30 p.m., and proceeds will benefit the Fort Myers Police Department Fallen Officer Memorial Fund and the Brotherhood Ride. Registration: $20 adult, $15 youth on or before Oct. 9. (www.ftmyerstrackclub.com)

· Saturday, Oct. 18: 6th annual Sanibel 10K 4 F.I.S.H. Starts 7:30 a.m. at Sanibel Community House 2173 Periwinkle Way, Sanibel. Registration $30 by Oct. 11, $35 through Oct. 17 and $40 day of. (www.ftmyerstrackclub.com)

· Sunday, Oct. 19: Rocktoberfest 10 mile (or 2 x 5 mile) race. North Collier Regional Park, 15000 Livingston Road, Naples. Pre-registration $55, students $45' starts at 7 a.m. (www.eliteevents.org).

· Tuesday, Nov. 11: Veteran's Day 5K Run across the Midpoint Bridge. Proceeds to benefit YMCA Youth programs. Race starts at 7 p.m. Registration: Before Nov. 1 veterans an youth $15, adults $20;
 Nov. 1-10 veterans and youth $20, adults $25. (www.ftmyerstrackclub.com)

Cycling & other events:
· Saturday, Oct. 11: Project 10 Ride 4 Wishes. Cape Harbour, Cape Coral. 15-, 30-, and 62-mile rides. $35 pre-registration, raises funds for Make-A-Wish Southern Florida. (www.eventbrite.com/e/project-10-ride-4-wishes-tickets-12368036129?aff=zvents)

· Sunday, Oct. 12: Trek Breast Cancer Awareness Ride. 10-, 15- and 25- mile rides. From The Bicycle Center, 3795 Tamiami Trail, Port Charlotte. $30 before Sept. 1, $40 after. (www.eventbrite.com/e/trek-breast-cancer-awareness-ride-the-bicycle-center-registration-11405930445)

· Sunday, Oct. 26: Fifth annual Tour de North Port. 15-, 35- and 65-mile rides that begin and end at the Imagine School, Upper Campus, 2757 Sycamore St., North Port. Full support, trick-or-treat rest stops. Breakfast and lunch offered. Starts at 7 a.m.; $40 each, $10 under age 10, group discounts available. (http://peoplefortrees.com/tourevent1_14.php).

· Sunday, Nov. 2: Streets Alive returns to downtown Fort Myers 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Activities for the entire family focused on active and healthy lifestyles. Details at www.streetsalivelee.org.

· Sunday, Nov. 9: Caloosahatchee River Ride 2014. 15-, 30-, 40- and 62-mile rides starting from Caloosahatchee Regional Park, 19130 North River Road, Alva. Register in advance or day of. (http://crca.caloosahatchee.org/events/?event=calendar&mon=11&details=1&id=350)

Triathlons:
· Sunday, Oct. 5: Marco Island Triathlon 2014, Marco Island Marriott Beach Resort, 400 South Collier, Marco Island. 8 a.m. start $85 individuals, $160 teams (http://www.thefitnesschallengetriathlon.com)

TELL US ABOUT YOUR RIDE:
Have a favorite route you like to bike, or a unique walk you'd like to share with others? Tell us about it at info@bikewalklee.org, and maybe we can feature it in an upcoming column.