Light rail could help you live longer

A U.S. study has showed that light rail transit in Charlotte, N.C., helped reduce obesity in commuters there by increasing their daily exercise because they had to walk to a transit stop and it improved people's perceptions of their neighbourhood.

"The results of this study suggest that improving neighborhood environments and increasing the public's use of LRT systems could provide improvements in health outcomes for millions of individuals," concludes the article in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine.

The link to highlights of the research comes from Marty Collier of Healthy Transport Consulting, who is responsible for organizing an annual road pricing summit in Toronto for the last three years that has attracted some of the world's foremost authorities on congestion solutions to speak here.

Comments

[Mike]

At an estimated $20.00 single trip Who can afford it.
Oh ya, all those who live off the Tax payers (poitical office).Those in the corprate world with expense accounts and don't have to pay with there own income.
Even with TO's public transit to go from the 905 to downtown Toronto using GO & TTC 15-20 round trip. OR only $40.00 a week in my VERSA.
Looks pretty nice but stop screwing us little guys.
$5.00 - $10.00 round trip with millions of riders seems better to me than over pricing and fewer riders
Just like that Ferry to NY, could never get a weekend trip without taking the Friday or Monday off for a return trip. Pollitions what a waste

[Patricia Sinclair]

What a joke! These people will use anything to promote the most dangerous form of public transit ever invented. Not only dangerous but not even cost effective or efficient to operate. If a person buys a dog their BMI before dog and after dog will have improved. They will also have an improved perception about their neighbourhood! You have to provide a viable system that is rapid and reliable in order for people to leave their cars and take public transit. Subways naturally do that without any artificial (financial) incentives. Not only that but Subways uplift communities, LRTs reduce the market value of properties along the line on average 15%. These people should be charged with FRAUD!

[Patricia Sinclair]

Unbelievable! What won't these folks do to promote this lousy form of transit? If you buy a dog your BMI will be less post dog than before and you will also have a better outlook on your neighbourhood! LRTs are the most dangerous form of transit and are not cost efficient not cost effective. If we want people to use public transit we must provide them with a rapid and reliable system. In Toronto that is Subway. Subways uplift communities. LRTs negatively impact neighbourhoods, market value drops on average 15% (see Metrolinx report). Now that will be great for the Priority Neighbourhoods won't it?!