Over the last year and a half, my wife and I have been commuting by a combination of bicycle and Metrolink train (light rail) to work everyday. Among the numerous benefits (health and financial being the top two), we have seen over the last few months an increase in riders who choose to add a bicycle to their commute. These are professionals (who I will introduce shortly) who took a proactive step to follow us and include a bicycle into their daily commute on the train -- we all ride the same train in the morning heading north west into Ventura from Glendale. Through a discussion of bicycles--which we have in common, we found out that my wife and I served as a "tipping point" in their decision to include a bicycle into their train commute. This naturally put a smile on our faces. Especially, since we are advocating for health reasons to choose to bicycle rather than drive around Los Angeles County. In the following post, I want to introduce our friends and talk about how this has facilitated my action to compose a letter to local politicians to implement an increase in bicycle infrastructure on the Metrolink trains. This is a result of a direct increase in ridership on the train line that we ride daily along with a prediction of future increased ridership with bicycles. I had an idea based on experiences recently (above and described below) that have been lingering in the back of my mind. Recently, these thoughts have started to precipitate in the form of action (research, writing, and advocating in city council meetings) to bring about a change in local infrastructure. Let me explain more in detail.
As I mentioned, a few new commuters started to incorporate the bicycle into their train commute. Previously, each were riding the train to their separate stations and then boarding a bus which dropped them near their work to finish their commute by walking. Who are these people that I speak of? Below is a picture of the four of us that ride the same car on the same train line each day.
Shown in the picture from left to right are: Nicolas Luna, Me--Mike Kaiser, My Wife--Kayla Kaiser, and Trong Nguyen. I do not need to elaborate on either myself to Kayla (see "About Us"), but I would like to discuss the two gentlemen who joined us on bicycles over the last six months. Nicolas is a healthcare professional who works in Chatsworth and lives in Glendale. He is an avid baseball player and loves all types of sports on top of working out daily during his lunch hour at the gym provided by his work. He is an alumni of the university at which both Kayla and I work at -- California State University at Northridge. I should mention that he motivated this photograph to inspire and document community ridership on the train (being that all of us live in Glendale). Trong Nguyen (on far right) is a mechanical engineer who graduated from UCSD (UC San Diego) and works at a private company in Simi Valley which is involved with public works (gas line production) contracts. Trong loves to surf and engage in other outdoor activities when not hard at work. Both are inspiring young professionals who are interested in improving their wellness through stress reduction (not sitting in traffic) and enjoy riding the train with the bicycle component added.
Kayla and I are truly lucky to meet such wonderful people. Daily we enjoy wonderful conversations during our ride out to the valley on the train. Each of us are interested in implementing any stress reduction measures that are possible into our lives on a daily/weekly/monthly/yearly basis. Which brings me to the point of the post. All of us have found that there is a 'local stress' that can be overcome that is occurring on our daily commute -- with the help of local politicians (Mayors and Congressmen, City Council Members). That stress is centered around the storage of bicycles on the Metrolink train. At this point the reader might be asking why is this so stressful? Currently, each train has around 4-6 passenger cars. Periodically, one of the passenger cars will be converted (the bottom floor seats are removed) to a bicycle car. Additionally, there is a "magnetic sign" that has a logo that says "Bicycle" on the side of the car. Shown below is the typical storage on a passenger car configured in the usual way:
Passenger Car bicycle corral #1 with two front wheel straps (up to 4 bicycles can fit).
That is one style of the availabe bicycle storage on the passenger cars of the Metrolink train (light rail). The second type of passenger car bicycle storage is shown in the picture below:
Passenger Car bicycle storage #2 (4 available bicycle front tire straps--tie in).
Here is another example of what happens when there are too many bicycles on this style of passenger car in the photo below:
One might be asking at this point--what is the issue? By inspection there appears to be 2-4 spots on each car and as mentioned above, there are 4-6 cars on each train. The issue is multi-faceted in that--in addition to the bicycles on the train, there are passengers who need to board and exit at their respective stop. In the passenger car #2 configuration, the aisle is restrictive due to the bicycles sticking out into the stair well area. Additionally, on some passenger cars, there is a 'handle bar' or "post" for passengers to grab onto in order to assist themselves boarding and exiting the train. This greatly impedes the cyclist who has to maneuver his/her bicycle around the pole and over time (successive stops) can result in a delayed train. What is the solution? As I alluded to above, the car can be converted into a bicycle car. Here are two pictures taken on the same day to illustrate our point that are shown below.
And ...
As the reader can see, in the first picture above (which is blurry--I apologize) there are plenty of spots--so many that the car appears to be empty. Truong is sitting on a bench to the right and Kayla is standing in the front of the car with a teacher (at a special education high school) name "Duke" who also periodically brings his bicycle on the train. This configuration can easily hold up to 24 bicycles. Can you imagine the relief in congestion of unloading and loading of the other passenger cars if there was at least one of these 'bicycle cars' per train? Further, could you imagine the relief of both types of passengers (non-bicyclist and bicyclist) commuters? I can easily see a change which would not cost a large amount of money and that would substantially improve the quality of life of each passenger (on a daily basis). In addition, here are six cars that are not on the road. Over time, an increased ridership is predicted on public transportation and this issue will eventually need to be addressed by Metrolink officials. I have decided to take action and compose a letter with a 'power point' presentation motivating the incorporation of at least one 'bicycle car' per train. I think that by inspection of the four pictures above, there is an obvious need.
I did not show other cars on this train (Ventura County Line) that have other bicycles on them. Additionally, Kayla and I have inspired others who ride the train to/and work at CSUN to incorporate bicycles into their commute. Our friend Jen who writes grants for the university has transitioned to using a bicycle on top of the Metrolink train. Plus, once a month all of us ride home on the "Orange Line Bus" bicycle path together on a Friday evening--that is new addition to our workout. The distance for all of us varies from 18-23 miles. This time serves as another community building activity to discussing health and wellness--which is what we are all about here at the Kaiserwellnesscenter. Remember our mantra "normal people trying to make changes toward a healthier lifestyle". If we can do this, so can you. I spoke of action--writing local politicians and research--what might that entail to encourage greater bicycle infrastructure? Read on to find out below.
The implementation of changing the ridership on the train is easy. Once a 'bicycle car' is on each train, the conductor would announce at each stop that there is a dedicated bicycle car on the train. Over a short amount of time riders would start to gravitate toward the bicycle car when boarding each train. Less stress!!! Consistent behavior on Metrolink's part by installing at least one dedicated 'bicycle car' on each train would result in an increase in ridership by itself....here is why. If there was a dedicated car for bicycles, then riders like myself would be confident when bragging about the combined commute (Metrolink train and bicycle) to encourage others to follow our lead. CSUN subsidizes train passes for staff and students which offers more than one benefit and motivation to the monthly passenger.
A "side" benefit of a monthly train pass:
One large benefit which Kayla and I have taken advantage of with our bicycles is to ride the train down to the beach and stay in a hotel for free (not the hotel). The train use is free to monthly passengers who hold a monthly pass. Last Christmas, Kayla and I went on a long bicycle ride (60 miles) one way and utilized the train to return back to Glendale the following day. That was awesome and I highly recommend doing a trip like that. Just last month, we rode the train up to Ventura on a Friday evening and participated in the last leg of the 'California Challenge' with the inspirational organization called 'Ride2Recovery'. Congressman Adam Schiff was along on the ride from Ventura to the VA (Veterans Affairs) campus in Santa Monica--California. The last thought brings me to mention the benefits of cycling which cannot be overstated and will be included in a letter to the Mr. Schiff and other local politicians as motivation to incorporate at least one 'bicycle car' on each Metrolink train. Shown below is a picture of Congressman Adam Schiff accepting an honorary "Ride2Recovery" Jersey at the end of the ride in Santa Monica:
Reduction of Obesity and Diabetes which in turn reduces CardioVascular Disease (CVD):
Among the numerous health benefits that exercise offers, a reduction in leading causes of life threatening diseases should be one major highlighted benefit. Obesity and diabetes are disorders which can lead to cardiovascular diseases (CVD). If implementing health and wellness initiatives such as pedestrian and bicycle paths could have a positive (reduction in onset of illnesses) why wouldn't local politicians (Congressional Representatives, Mayors, Council Members, etc.) want to jump on board to initiate funding or action--such as installing a 'bicycle car' on each train. But the reader does not have to believe me, let me give a few statistics that will drive home my point from a well-respected organization--the American Heart Association. A recent report released by the American Heart Association (AHA) highlights the need to implement changes and incorporate fitness into various activities throughout the average citizen's day. There are four passages that I have shown below from the report on "Public Policy Agenda 2010-14" published by the AHA and accessible through the kaiserwellnesscenters webpage by Nurse Sally's Healthy Heart Advice webpage. The numbers that are cited as motivation for the reduction of incidences and expenditure of the healthcare costs to the nation are disturbing and should be a call for action. Each of the four passages has a different perspective: 1)Motivation/Background, 2) Greenhouse Gas Emission Reduction, 3) Community Development, and 4) National Security.
1) Motivation/Background of report:
"The American Heart Association's (AHA) public policy agenda provides our federal, state, and local advocacy staff with strategic guidance and direction on policy issues and positions that align with and support the Association's mission and strategic priorities. Additionally, each year the AHA scans the political landscape to identify opportunities and establishes federal and state priorities that serve to focus our immediate advocacy efforts on those issues that present the greatest opportunity for success in achieving mission and strategic priority related health impact through public policy."
"... Heart disease and stoke are the number 1 and 4 causes of death, respectively, in the U.S. (Lloyd-Jones, Adams et al, 2009). Lifetime cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk in people free of disease at age 40 is 2 in 3 for men and more than 1 in 2 for women. (Lloyd-Jones, Adams et al. 2009). As the baby boomers age, heart disease deaths are projected to increase 2.5 times faster than population, and the prevalence of heart disease is projected to increase by 16% each decade(Foot, Lewis et al. 2000). Deaths from the most common type of stroke (ischemic stroke) are projected to increase nearly 100 percent to 275,000 between 2000 and 2032 (Elkins and Johnston 2003). CVD cost our nation an estimated $298 billion in medical expenses and lost productivity in 2008, making it the most costly disease."
2) Greenhouse Gas Emission Perspective:
"The United States is a car-centered society for many reasons--a reduction in costs to own, insure, and fuel vehicles, convenience, fear of crime, commuting, and community designs that discourage walking, cycling, or use of public transportation, all leading to a concomitant decline active transport (2007). The transportation sector is the only sector for which CO2 emissions have been steadily increasing since 1970 (2007). The decline of exercise with less active travel because of the over use of cars leads to small energy imbalances each day that accumulate throughout the year and contribute to weight gain. Whereas, opportunities to increase active living such as biking or walking to work are positively associated with fitness and inversely associated with BMI, obesity, triglyceride levels, blood pressure and insulin levels (Gordon-Larsen, Boone-Heinonen et al. 2009).
Obesity requires greater use of fossil fuels (Edwards and Roberts 2009). One study calculated that the United uses an additional 1 billion gallons of fuel each year due to passenger overweight and obesity, accounting for up to 0.8% of the nation's annual fuel consumption and causing 20 billion pounds or more of carbon dioxide emissions (Jacobson 2006; Jacobson 2009). More than 39 million gallons of fuel are estimated to be used annually for each additional pound of average passenger weight (Jacobson 2009). Additionally, because food production is a major contributor to global warming, a leaner population consuming more foods gown locally will produce fewer greenhouse gases than a population that is obese and purchases foods transported over larger distances (Jacobson 2006)."
3) Community Development Perspective:
"Urban and community development are important areas for public health advocacy. Several studies have found that the way communities are designed and developed impacts access to healthy foods and physical activity opportunities and correlates with obesity. Youth whose schools are located near a fast food outlet eat fewer fruits and vegetables, drink more soda and are more likely to be obese than students at other schools (Davis and Carpenter 2009). There is a disparate prevalence of urban corner stores in low-income and high-minority communities and purchase from these stores contribute significantly to thier energy intake and consumption of less healthy foods and beverages by urban school children (Borradaile, Sherman et al 2009). Projects such as farmers' markets, community gardens, promotion of culturally specific foods for ethnic minorities and Native Americans, local food production and promotion, youth agricultural and culinary training programs are all important means to address healthy food access, affordability, and behavior choices in communities. Better neighborhood resources such as safe sidewalks, green spaces, parks, public transportation, and ready access to fruits and vegetables leads to as much as 38% less risk for developing diabetes when these communities are compared with those that do not have these resources (Auchincloss, Diez Roux et al. 2009).
Cities across the United States are debating the best ways to convert vacant lots or brown fields within the context of economic development. Community gardens, small parks, and open green spaces are excellent options for these areas. Cities need to find ways to finance their development and maintenance. Studies have shown that community gardens positively impact surrounding residential properties, increase rates of home ownership and spur economic redevelopment (Been 2007). Other studies have shown the direct cost-benefit of building bike/pedestrian trails by reducing health care costs associated with physical inactivity. For every dollar invested in building these trails, nearly $3 in medical cost savings may be achieved (Wang, Macera et al. 2005). Additionally, linking different parts of the community with trails and walkways opens up the opportunity for community integration, more efficient land use, lower traffic congestion, and better quality of life."
4) National Security Perspective:
"The obesity epidemic and fitness levels of the U.S. population are impacting military recruitment, and the numbers of men and women who may be able to qualify for enrollment at police academies or pass fitness tests given to emergency responders or military personnel (2005). One recent study released by the generals and admirals of Mission: Readiness revealed that 75% of young Americans are unable to serve in the military because they have either failed to graduate high school, engaged in criminal activity, or are physically or mentally unfit (2005). According to the Army, very few soldiers enter the military physically fit, and so the services rely heavily on their basic training system to provide effective physical fitness training (2009). For these same reasons, obesity prevalence is impacting recruitment to police academies and potential effectiveness of emergency response. Ultimately, this has ramifications for U.S. National Security. It will be important for the AHA to underscore this point in its policy advocacy work to create an important rationale for policy-makers to incorporate obesity prevention policy throughout the different levels of government in a coordinated way."
I do not need to spend too much time elaborating on the three reasons why illnesses such as obesity and diabetes which lead to CVD need to be addressed. Wherever the reader is at in the world, just apply the statistics listed above to the local population of your country/state/province and imagine the detrimental (magnitude) of the rates of CVD. My mother (Nurse Sally) has just been asked to join a panel called the National Forum for Stronger Hearts. The initiative is looking into broadening the "211 phone line" for resources to help reduce cardiovascular disease by connecting people who call with resources in the community. More to come on this topic in a later post. The take home point is that implementation of exercise (pedestrian and bicycle) infrastructure translates into money saved and health improved---$1 for every bicycle/pedestrian infrastructural change = $3 savings in healthcare expenditure!!
Why should I ride a bicycle? Why not?
I want to leave the reader with a couple of pictures from our last ride that I mentioned with the wonderful organization 'Ride2Recovery'. After reading above the obvious benefits of exercise--from my personal experience (along with my wife and friends) to those reported in the study from the AHA, take a look at these pictures and ask yourself the following questions:
1) What is stopping me from supporting greater health and wellness initiatives? Especially if I am a politician?
2) What is stopping me from getting on a bicycle for exercise?
3) What is stopping me from transitioning from a 'car-centric' household to a 'bike-centric' household?
4) What mental barrier can I lower to make numbers 1-3 above into a reality instead of remaining questions in my mind?
5) Start working like the "heroes below"!!
Among the many "heroes" that we got to ride with that special day, here are a few that transcend traditional mental boundaries the rest of us cannot overcome---Think About Your Barrier!
"Carlos" shown above hugging R2R leader after accepting a honorary bicycle from this wonderful organization for completing the entire ride -- San Francisco to Santa Monica. His story: A Double Amputee -- An Awesome and Courageous Hero. Now, what is your excuse for not jumping on a bicycle?
Another Hero--Single Amputee--rocked that ride. He fell down in front of me only to get up with little help -- This Hero Rocks. Again, what is your excuse for not getting on a bicycle?
Look at these Heroes pushing the limits in the final stretch after 468 miles over 7 days!!! Again, what is your excuse for not getting on a bicycle?
One veteran leading another courageous veteran (the hero in the rear is blind) -- the loyalty on top of trust is amazing. This photo should define the word "trust." Truly powerful and transformative--No Excuses for these veterans. Again, what is your excuse for not getting on a bicycle?
Kayla Kaiser and J. Mike Kaiser (two authors for the KaiserWellnessCenter) have no excuses--therefore, we are shown in the pictures above--riding with our heroes!! Regardless of your current excuse, "Adapt and Overcome" that mental block. Jump on a bicycle or go out for a run/walk/hike/swim. NO EXCUSES FOR LAZINESS!!!!