The Future of Biking in America?

July 30, 2015 by Todd Christman
By John Doherty, ATC, PT

A common refrain in this space is “exercise is medicine.” And if you are looking for proof, go no further than the current edition of HBO’s “Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel.”
 
In one segment, the host doubles as field reporter and offers some startling numbers on just how much in health care savings the citizens of Copenhagen realize by biking to work.
 
Before focusing on Copenhagen, though, Gumbel starts in the United States and reports, “Commuting by bike has risen 60 percent in the last 15 years.”
 
My first thought on hearing that number was that 60 percent of nothing is still nothing. Yet, Chicago and Indianapolis are among major municipalities that — in an effort to go green — have suddenly started painting bike lanes onto main thoroughfares, supposedly for exclusive use by cyclists.

You can read the full version of this article in The Times. John Doherty is a licensed athletic trainer and physical therapist. This column reflects solely his opinion. Reach him at jdoherty@comhs.org. Follow him on Twitter @JDohertyATCPT.