BENCHMARKING REPORT-Correlation- Cities with High rates of walking cycling and excercise have lowest rates of Obesity, Diabetes,& High Blood Pressure.

THUNDERHEAD ALLIANCE RELEASES FIRST BENCHMARKING REPORT

6 September 2007- Bicycling and Walking in the U.S., the Thunderhead
Alliance's first biennial Benchmarking Report released August 29th, clearly links the decline in bicycling and walking and the surge in numbers of adults and children who are obese. The report was released to Thunderhead's network of bicycle and pedestrian advocacy organizations and government officials throughout the country.

The report compares, for the first time ever, bicycling and walking
levels, investment in bicycling and walking, and public health. The
findings reveal major disparities between cycling and walking levels,
traffic fatalities, and federal funding for bicycle and pedestrian projects.

"Most public health advocates already preach the benefits of biking and
walking," said Sue Knaup, Thunderhead's executive director. "This report
clearly demonstrates that cities and states with the highest rates of
cycling and walking almost always have the lowest levels of obesity,
high blood pressure, and diabetes."

Knaup also noted that the data contained within the report can be very
useful for advocates working at local and regional levels. "If you've
ever stuttered when an official demanded data to back up your claims, or
wished for state-by-state data at your fingertips, the Benchmarking
Report delivers," she said.

The report provides detailed data and illustrations on bicycling and
walking in 50 states and the 50 most-populous cities. Measurements
include bicycle and pedestrian staffing, funding, written policies, and
bike-transit integration, among others.

Thunderhead has released the biennial Benchmarking Report along with a
template press release that can be modified for use at the local level.
To download the report visit:

For more information about Bicycling and Walking in the U.S., contact:
, or call 415-513-5281.

[from CenterLines, the e-newsletter of the U.S. National Center for
Bicycling & Walking]

One World Two Wheels - A Trek Commitment

(from Trek USA...ride a bike , its the greenest thing you can do to help the earth and your community's health.)

A Trek Commitment
Trek Dealers are working to get people to ride their bikes and make a more bike friendly world, one mile at a time.

We all know the world has some problems; gas is expensive and cars pollute, the roads are congested and humans are getting bigger.

And not in a good way.

Luckily, there is a solution to these problems. A solution that burns calories, not gas. It doesn't waste fuel sitting in traffic. Something that could even bring communities closer together.

The solution is the bicycle.

With 40% of non-work related car trips being taken being two miles or less, what would happen if more people took the short trips on their bike?

What if more communities had a "Safe Routes to Schools" plan so kids could ride to school safely?

What would the world be like with more bicycle friendly communities?Imagine arriving at work fresh instead of frazzled. Parking within feet of the building!

Your kids getting exercise to and from school. Better still, commuting by bike IS exercising! And there are no carbon emissions from burning calories.We all can ride and we have only one planet.

Trek and Trek dealers challenge you to join us in making the world a more bike friendly place.

You can start by riding your bike. It's the greenest thing you can do to help the earth.

on yer bike !,

and please be Visible, Predictable and Legal.