| August
2005 |
|
Fighting Obesity in Minority Communities The ‘Bikeracker Suite’ Raises the Bar for Service Memorial to Fund Teen Job Training Suburbs Ask Shoppers to Ride Bikes Federation Welcomes New Board Members Queen's Landing Crosswalk Closed |
Fighting Obesity with Bikes Obesity is quickly becoming one of the nation’s top health problems; but studies show that the crisis is most prevalent in minority communities like Chicago’s Hispanic and African-American neighborhoods. Now, thanks to a $25,000 grant awarded last month by the Chicago Community Trust, the prescription of bicycling can be spread to Chicagoans through the Chicagoland Bicycle Federation’s Active Living in Chicago’s Diverse Communities program, a multi-pronged effort to educate minorities and engage them with opportunities for cycling and walking.
CBF Executive Director Rob Sadowsky said the purpose of Active Living in Chicago’s Diverse Communities is to raise the level of bicycling among Chicagoland minorities. “We are going to promote bicycling as a fun and practical way to improve overall health,” he said. A key component of Active Living is CBF’s visionary Sunday Parkways initiative, which will open major aterial boulevards exclusively to bicycle, pedestrian and other non-motorized traffic, thus linking Douglas, Garfield and Humboldt parks with Logan Square and offering a free option for healthy transportation and recreation at the doorsteps of communities at greatest risk for obesity. “Creating safe infrastructure is the most effective way to increase biking in an urban setting,” Sadowsky said, referring to studies that show bicycle infrastructure encourages more people to bicycle, increases bicycling’s legitimacy and reduces collisions. These communities also will be invigorated by the linkage of the three parks’ exercise and fitness programs, free events, and farmer’s markets, he said. CBF will partner with Pilsen’s Alivio Medical Center and other community-based health clinics to prescribe bicycling as a practical solution to promoting overall health. Alivio recently started an earn-a-bike program, distributing 200 free bicycles to Latino patrons as a reward for successfully completing a prescribed Active Living program. Another strategy is to work with bicycle clubs and groups like the Major Taylor Bike Society to bring together African-American and South Side cyclists and increase physical activity. The program has a marketing component as well. CBF will expand its media campaign to focus on outlets that serve African-American and Latino communities. CBF will make regular appearances on community radio and television networks, and increase its presence in community and regional publications that serve minority populations. CBF also is translating its website to Spanish, and supplying educational and promotional materials in Spanish, Polish and Chinese. While obesity has reached epidemic proportions for all Americans, it is most prevalent in minority populations, according to the American Public Health Association. Many obesity-related diseases, including diabetes, hypertension, cancer and heart disease, have higher rates among various members of racial and ethnic minorities compared with whites, the association reports. CBF community liaisons Carlos Cuarta and Keith Holt are developing programming that addresses the unique cultures of targeted populations. The staff assists with aldermanic bike rides; makes presentations at schools, community fairs, health fairs and public parks; and partners with neighborhood societies to spearhead Active Living agendas. Arline Welty is Chicagoland Bicycle Federation director of corporate and foundation relations
|
