Health and Active Living Page 4

Florida’s Snake Creek Trail | Photo courtesy Miami-Dade County Parks, Recreation and Open Spaces Department

Florida’s Snake Creek Trail

Posted 11/17/15 by Laura Stark in America's Trails | Tagged with Florida, Health and Active Living, Trail Destinations, Trail of the Month, Urban Pathways

Neighborhood trails don’t come much nicer than the Snake Creek Trail in southeast Florida. While not a rail-trail, the paved 6.5-mile route offers a similar easy and level riding experience along a pleasant, palm-tree-dotted canal connecting North Miami Beach and Miami Gardens (home of the Miami Dolphins).

New York City DOT Safety City (traffic and pedestrian safety) class | Photo courtesy NYCDOT | CC by 2.0

A Good Place for Everyone to Walk

Posted 10/29/15 by Jay Walljasper in Health and Wellness, Policy | Tagged with Disparities and Underserved Communities, Health and Active Living, Walkability and Bikeability

Walking is a powerful tool to change the world as well as a fundamental human right. To be restrained from free movement is a denial of our liberties and a betrayal of American ideals. Yet many disadvantaged people now think twice before traveling on foot due to dangerous traffic, street crime or a lack of stores and public places within walking distance, which heightens serious problems of poor health, limited transportation options and overall disillusionment in their communities.

Photo courtesy Fairmount Park Conservancy

How We Show Off Our City: Walking Is the Way to Go in Philadelphia

Posted 10/21/15 by Katie Harris in Success Stories, Health and Wellness | Tagged with Health and Active Living, Pennsylvania, Walkability and Bikeability

Few cities have better embraced walkability more than Philadelphia. According to WalkScore’s 2015 rankings, Philadelphia is the fourth most walkable city in the United States! The city has even invested in a comprehensive signage system that is custom-made for pedestrians as part of the Streetscape Improvement Program, the Walk!Philadelphia campaign.

Photo courtesy Darren Larson | CC by 2.0

11 Tips to Make Walking a Natural, Enjoyable Part of Your Day

Posted 09/16/15 by Jay Walljasper in Taking Action, Health and Wellness | Tagged with Health and Active Living, Transportation and Health, Walkability and Bikeability

The United States Surgeon General placed walking in the national spotlight with his recent call to action, encouraging people to make walking a part of their daily lives and to help create more walkable communities. In part one of Jay Walljasper's four-part series, Easy Steps to Walking More, he provides simple tips that can help every American adopt walking into their regular routines.

Met Branch Trail, Washington, D.C. | Photo courtesy RTC

US Surgeon General Announces National Call to Action on Walking

Posted 09/09/15 by Kevin Mills in Health and Wellness, Taking Action | Tagged with Health and Active Living, Walkability and Bikeability

On Sept. 9, 2015, walking took center stage when the United States Surgeon General issued a national call to action to increase walking and walkability to address major public health challenges in America. The call to action, which was issued live via Webcast at 10 a.m. EST, and titled Step It Up! The Surgeon General’s Call to Action to Promote Walking and Walkable Communities, put forth the benefits of walking while emphasizing the lack safe and convenient routes for people traveling by foot or wheelchair in many communities.

The Testermans on the C&O Canal Towpath | Photo by Brian Gerhardstein

Washington Couple Meets Retirement—One Rail-Trail at a Time

Posted 07/20/15 by Elizabeth Striano in Success Stories, Health and Wellness | Tagged with California, Health and Active Living, Healthy Aging

After years of running a household and raising their children, and a long career as a veterinarian, Ann and Bill Testerman are starting a new life in retirement together by biking the United States, one rail-trail at a time.

David Ira Kagan immediately after achieving his 2014 goal of riding 5,458 miles | Photo courtesy David Ira Kagan

No Excuses! How a Tenacious 66-Year-Old Achieved His 5,458-Mile Cycling Goal

Posted 02/23/15 by David Ira Kagan in Success Stories | Tagged with Health and Active Living, Pennsylvania, Success Stories

For some of us, the cold reality of winter is enough to stop us in our tracks…curtailing our grand plans to get out on the trail and be more physically active. But not so for Kagan, who, despite numerous health issues and some sporadic East Coast weather—managed to achieve his 2014 biking goal of 5,458 miles.

The Great Divide Trail | Photo courtesy OldDogNewTrick | CC by 2.0

Five Great Trail Activities and Their Health Benefits

Posted 01/17/15 by Elissa Southward in Health and Wellness | Tagged with Health and Active Living, Trail Use Tips

When it comes to being physically active, trails provide a wide range of outdoor activities to keep us motivated year-round. Each activity has unique pluses; the key is to find one that’s right for you! Here are five fitness-forward trail activities that will help you embrace a healthy lifestyle and have a ton of fun in the process.

Photo courtesy Daniele Zanni | CC by 2.0

How to Keep That Healthy Trail Resolution

Posted 01/09/15 by Amy Kapp in Trail Use, Health and Wellness | Tagged with Health and Active Living, How-to, Trail Use Tips

Whoever said “Variety is the spice of life” isn’t far off; changing things up is not only good for our muscles, but good for our minds as well. And that’s what makes trails so great; not only do they provide us safe places to be physically active—they also provide us with safe places to get to other great places to be physical active! Here are just a few easy ways trails can help you keep your trail resolution interesting, and keep it—full stop.

Photo courtesy Ed Yourdon via Flickr

Triumph on the Trails: How One Woman Reclaimed Her Health After Cancer

Posted 01/06/15 by Amy Kapp in Health and Wellness | Tagged with Georgia, Health and Active Living, Success Stories

We were pleased to learn of this recently published third video installment of “Life on the Atlanta BeltLine,” which outlines the story of Jenny—wife, mother of twins and courageous individual who regained her health on Atlanta’s Eastside Trail after recovering from breast cancer.