The MT Position

Posted by Fred Jandt
Mass Transit magazine editor

Mass Transit’s parent company, Cygnus Business Media, recently started a Wellness Committee to promote all things good for you. One of its first initiatives was our own version of “The Biggest Loser” challenge. I gave it a shot (I did well, but didn’t have the dedication of some of my compatriots), but despite my efforts, I’ve found the best weight loss plan is public transit.

I attended a rail summit in Chicago this week and took Amtrak from Milwaukee to the event. Rather than opting for a cab, my publisher and I walked the six blocks to its location.

Need I point out that Chicago in late June is not exactly cool on a bright sunny day?

Once there it was six flights of stairs up to the hall where the presentations were being given. I know, elevators are great, but everyone was using the stairs, so I literally went with the flow.

The return trip was more of the same. As I rode home I thought about how transit definitely keeps you in shape, and it looks like I was right. A story came out this week discussing a study stating transit has its own built-in exercise program.

What’s the optimal stop/station spacing for transit? Most destinations within ¼ mile walk of bus stops and ½ mile walk from rail stations?

It’s all a matter of relativity really. If I am going to walk a half mile, it’s a planned thing. We have a nice bike/walking trail next to our offices with markers for every half mile. But when I was walking the six blocks in downtown Chicago, it wasn’t a matter of distance; it was a matter of getting to a destination on time.

It’s amazing to me listening to transit’s deriders out there when transit not only helps the environment, but also helps improve your health. We’d probably be a much healthier nation if transit had a larger presence in all of our lives.

Thanks for reading the MT Position, updated every Friday. For those interested in instant updates, you can now get your latest Mass Transit fix via Twitter.

Fred
fred.jandt@cygnusb2b.com
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