City dwellers exercise more

19-07-2012

Whoever lives in the city, walks and cycles on average 15 minutes per day more than a country dweller. This is what Delfien Van Dyck of the Belgian University of Gent has stated in her doctoral research.

Most people see rural areas as “exercise-friendly” environments. The countryside is relaxing, has little traffic and much green space, all of which make for pleasant wandering or cycling. Nevertheless, the research conducted at Gent University however shows that this does not necessarily mean that country folk exercise more. Instead, city folk exercise more - on average 15 minutes per day more than country dwellers in order to get from A to B or for work-related reasons. But city dwellers also walk more when off-duty. Walking in town seems to be just as attractive as walking in the country.
As regards sports, there is not much difference between the inhabitants of the two environments. The particular characteristics of a city centre such as high population density, presence of shops and presence of public services – all within walking and cycling distance - together with fast transport links between them appear to influence the amount of exercise people do. The fact that a city’s heavy traffic may be dangerous for both pedestrians and cyclists or the fact that there is less green space does not seem to matter much.

Research done in America and in Australia has also shown that city life stimulates its adult inhabitants to exercise more, according to Van Dyck, whose research now shows that this is also the case for Europe.
According to the researcher from Gent, putting this knowledge into practice within urban renewal projects means that city dwellers should live where shops, schools, offices, and public services are accessible and reachable via fast transport links – all within an environment with a capacious housing density. In this manner inhabitants will automatically exercise more without having to think about it or having to make an extra effort to do so.
The countryside has less exercise-stimulating characteristics than the city, but its inhabitants can be made aware of the need for exercise. The country offers much scope for exercise too, but its inhabitants must make more deliberate choices in this direction, for example by organising a walking or cycling tour or by becoming a member of a sports club.

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Riet Beukert (particulier)
04-06-2012 @ 21:54

Dit is voor mij allang bekend. Ik let er steeds op, en zie het ook steeds. Als er een vergadering was van Duurzaam Veilig in Zeeuws Vlaanderen en het ging om een ingreep van een paar km verderop kwamen ze met stralend zonnig weer midden in de zomer vrijwel allemaal met de auto, een enkeling met de fiets. Er is op het platteland totaal geen barrière om de auto te nemen. Hoe meer barrières er zijn zoals in de stad betaald parkeren hoe meer mensen de fiets nemen. Ook in wijken bij supermarkten nemen mensen voor een paar boodschapjes al de auto als parkeren gratis is.

John Joseph Power
30-08-2012 @ 13:49

In Ireland this is very true as regards city and Country. In the last 10 years in Ireland and especially in Dublin there is an Renaissance in Cycling with loads of people taking to the Bicycle for exercise and also getting around. About 15 years ago in the City you would be lucky to find another Cyclist stopped at the Traffic lights with you. Now all that is changed if you are stopped at the lights in Dublin ,there is at least 5 - 10 Cyclists beside you.

However in Country areas very few People Cycle save for those taking trips from the Cities mostly from Dublin and also Tourists. In Ireland most people from Country areas travel by Car and often 4+4s. Cycle usage is growing in Dublin particularly and there is a growing interest in Dutch style Bikes and also Cargo Bikes like the Bakfiets and also the English equivalents ,Pashly and Dawes Heritage. The infrastructure cannot be compared to NL and is sparse but is slowly improving as is also Drivers atitude although slowly. I do not think we will ever approach the level of Cycling as NL but you never know.

Leo Maathuis (Fietsersbond)
30-08-2012 @ 18:46

I agree on the observation that the constraints on the use of cars in the city is of major influence. Or on the other hand: better facilities for biking and walking is important to shift from car to bike. Swapping each first car parking place in a row with bike parking places. Increase car parking fees. Give bicycle ways priority and so on.

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City dwellers exercise more

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