6 ms·

Boston Doctors Can Now Prescribe You a Bike

99 points by RougeFemme 13y ago

eloisant 13y ago
I hope pollution levels are low in Boston because making a physical effort while breathing polluted air (= in a city with a lot of cars at rush hours) is not the best for your health.
- jrockway 13y ago
  Heart disease kills many more Americans than pollution. Even after factoring in the additional pollution exposure and traffic accident risk, cycling is still a net win: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2920084/ http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2920084/ (And, of course, the more people cycling, the more drivers look out for cyclists. And there are less cars!)
  - Brakenshire 13y ago
    Interesting study. Just as a slight criticism of your wording, although I don't think this applies to the study- a lot of deaths from heart disease are actually caused by air pollution. Inhalation of particulate matter is implicated in tens of thousands of deaths a year. Even though exercise outweighs inhalation of fumes, air pollution is a serious issue, and many lives could be saved by its reduction. Hopefully that will be an extra benefit of electric and hybrid cars in cities.
- mkoryak 13y ago
  sitting on your butt as you drive, or standing in a crowded train car full of diseases is probably worse for your health
  - Fuxy 13y ago
    What are you talking about it keeps your immune system prepared :P
    - mkoryak 13y ago
      I have thought about this a lot - I biked to every day this winter, and only took the train wearing a surgical mask a few dozen times when I couldn't bike. I didn't get sick this winter like I usually do. I probably need to bike for the next 9 winters though before I can really attribute not getting sick to not taking the T and exercising.
- luch 13y ago
  As a bike commuter on a major city recently hit by a peak of air pollution (Paris), I've looked around for infos, and it's seems cyclists are less exposed to air pollution than motorists or even pedestrians. Sources : http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2920084/ http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2920084/ http://www.theguardian.com/environment/bike-blog/2014/feb/20/air-pollution-cyclists-bike-blog http://www.theguardian.com/environment/bike-blog/2014/feb/20.... http://www.minnpost.com/second-opinion/2014/03/city-cycling-healthful-or-hazardous-health http://www.minnpost.com/second-opinion/2014/03/city-cycling-...
qwerta 13y ago
Ireland has cycle-to-work scheme. It deduces price of bike from your income tax, practically it means you pay 40% less for a bike. Ireland is probably the worst possible country for cycling (rain, wind, narrow roads with walls on side) but it seems to work.
- mahyarm 13y ago
  You just need to make the bike clothing/armor tax deductible too!
  - qwerta 13y ago
    Already is, I forgot to write bike AND equipment. The limit is about 1000 euro every 6 months.
    - herge 13y ago
      Did it start off as 1000€ every 2 years when the law first came into effect?
      - qwerta 13y ago
        I am not sure about 6 months, I guess it could be 2 years instead.
cpncrunch 13y ago
Seems like a good idea to get unfit people onto bikes. However I don't see why Hubway should cost $85 a year. I recently bought a decent second-hand mountain bike for $50 (before that I bought one for $25 that lasted 7 years).
- streptomycin 13y ago
  I can't speak for Hubway, but most municipal bike programs I've seen have bikes built like tanks, which must cost more than $50. I assume this is to minimize the maintenance costs that must be inherent in a system where the bike users have nearly no incentive to take care of the bikes. And, of course, you still have maintenance costs even for these tank-bikes.
  - Pxtl 13y ago
    Here in Hamilton we're getting SoBi - their bikes actually contain cellphone and GPS components so they can phone home with their position. That's more maintenance and service costs.
  - hubway 13y ago
    Hubway bikes have often been described like that, as "tanks." They are 42 lbs each, designed like that on purpose to be stable & steady street bikes for riders of different skill levels. They do, indeed, cost more than $50, but a lot of that is the technology involved with the docking/rental system, moreso than to minimize maintenance. Alta Bicycle Share, the system that operates Hubway for the metro-Boston region, employees a full team of mechanics and field staff to do regular maintenance, including a full service during the winter months, on the entire fleet of 1300+ bikes.
- traughber 13y ago
  I live in SF and have both a personal commuter bike, and a BABS membership. When I factor in the convenience of not having to do any maintenance on the BABS bike, don't have to worry about fixing any flat tires, don't have to worry about theft (a big problem in SF), and can quickly dock a bike where I'm going, $88 a year feels like a very good deal. The only thing preventing me from going 100% BABS is the network of stations in SF is very sparse and located mostly downtown (see: https://twitter.com/ptraughber/status/388368763281625089 https://twitter.com/ptraughber/status/388368763281625089).
ldarcyftw 13y ago
What about winters? I'm under impression it can get quite rough in Boston (possibly to the point that health risks will outweight the benefits).
- cauterize 13y ago
  The Hubway stations are removed before winter.
  - mpapi 13y ago
    They kept the Cambridge ones open this year, though, and it seemed like they were still regularly used.
- carbocation 13y ago
  Interestingly, in the winters the streets seem much cleaner much faster than the sidewalks. In fact, pedestrians get to deal with snow plowed off of the streets. I know a few residents who bike to work from Cambridge to MGH (over the Longfellow bridge) year-round.
- Kiro 13y ago
  In Scandinavia people take the bike even in snow storms. Just put on winter tires and you're safe.
- mpapi 13y ago
  If you're used to riding in traffic, it's not really any riskier than other seasons -- they salt the roads heavily and tend to have the main ones pretty clear the day after a storm. Probably the riskiest part (as a commuter) was that with shorter days, I was often riding home well after sunset.
- Pxtl 13y ago
  Ironically, many of the best cycling cities in the world have terrible winters. Montreal, Copenhagen, Dublin - not exactly tropical climates. They manage.
- dimatura 13y ago
qeorge 13y ago
In Greensboro, NC, Greensboro Housing Coalition is a non-profit that wants everyone to have safe housing, regardless of income levels. A common problem with low-income housing is cockroaches, bad insulation, and other conditions which lead to a much higher rate of asthma in children who grow up in such homes. They are putting together a study to test whether improving the condition of these home would reduce the incidence of asthma in affected children (and the costs associated with the resulting frequent hospital visits) so much as to be a more cost effective use of Medicaid funds. If the study finds that this is the case, and their experience suggests that will, the end goal is to enable doctors to prescribe home inspections and improvements, and for those actions to be paid for by medicaid/insurance. It would be a clear win/win: healthier children and lower costs across the board. If this interests you, please consider a donation to http://greensborohousingcoalition.com http://greensborohousingcoalition.com . They are an excellent organization that will make efficient use of your donation.
- dmm 13y ago
  The US is so afraid of socialism it has to medicalize every social problem so that it can be helped. That really does sounds like a good program and this is not a criticism, just an observation. http://thelastpsychiatrist.com/2010/11/the_terrible_awful_truth_about_1.html http://thelastpsychiatrist.com/2010/11/the_terrible_awful_tr...
letrerrr 13y ago
How about prescribing nutrient rich food?
- Shivetya 13y ago
  One thing at a time. I like this idea because it encourages activity, not just exercise but just being out. With all the various aid programs we have institutionalized poverty. For far too many we have nearly found the least cost to society to idle a large portion of it. To give them just enough to exist, just enough to not want to resort taking from others, but too much so that they don't have a need or desire to live. Its a drug. Here, watch some tv, enjoy that boxed dinner in your microwave, we will even help you with a place to stay. All you have to is stay out of sight, be quiet and it will all be okay
brianstorms 13y ago
Now, if we can only get doctors to prescribe stopping at stop signs.
- scoofy 13y ago
  Now, if we can only get doctors to prescribe not speeding. #replacebikewithcar
- drpgq 13y ago
  Prescribing Idaho stops would be even better.

99 points by RougeFemme 13y ago

I hope pollution levels are low in Boston because making a physical effort while breathing polluted air (= in a city with a lot of cars at rush hours) is not the best for your health.

jrockway 13y ago
Heart disease kills many more Americans than pollution. Even after factoring in the additional pollution exposure and traffic accident risk, cycling is still a net win: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2920084/ http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2920084/ (And, of course, the more people cycling, the more drivers look out for cyclists. And there are less cars!)
- Brakenshire 13y ago
  Interesting study. Just as a slight criticism of your wording, although I don't think this applies to the study- a lot of deaths from heart disease are actually caused by air pollution. Inhalation of particulate matter is implicated in tens of thousands of deaths a year. Even though exercise outweighs inhalation of fumes, air pollution is a serious issue, and many lives could be saved by its reduction. Hopefully that will be an extra benefit of electric and hybrid cars in cities.
mkoryak 13y ago
sitting on your butt as you drive, or standing in a crowded train car full of diseases is probably worse for your health
- Fuxy 13y ago
  What are you talking about it keeps your immune system prepared :P
  - mkoryak 13y ago
    I have thought about this a lot - I biked to every day this winter, and only took the train wearing a surgical mask a few dozen times when I couldn't bike. I didn't get sick this winter like I usually do. I probably need to bike for the next 9 winters though before I can really attribute not getting sick to not taking the T and exercising.
luch 13y ago
As a bike commuter on a major city recently hit by a peak of air pollution (Paris), I've looked around for infos, and it's seems cyclists are less exposed to air pollution than motorists or even pedestrians. Sources : http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2920084/ http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2920084/ http://www.theguardian.com/environment/bike-blog/2014/feb/20/air-pollution-cyclists-bike-blog http://www.theguardian.com/environment/bike-blog/2014/feb/20.... http://www.minnpost.com/second-opinion/2014/03/city-cycling-healthful-or-hazardous-health http://www.minnpost.com/second-opinion/2014/03/city-cycling-...

qwerta 13y ago

Ireland has cycle-to-work scheme. It deduces price of bike from your income tax, practically it means you pay 40% less for a bike. Ireland is probably the worst possible country for cycling (rain, wind, narrow roads with walls on side) but it seems to work.

mahyarm 13y ago
You just need to make the bike clothing/armor tax deductible too!
- qwerta 13y ago
  Already is, I forgot to write bike AND equipment. The limit is about 1000 euro every 6 months.
  - herge 13y ago
    Did it start off as 1000€ every 2 years when the law first came into effect?
    - qwerta 13y ago
      I am not sure about 6 months, I guess it could be 2 years instead.

cpncrunch 13y ago

Seems like a good idea to get unfit people onto bikes. However I don't see why Hubway should cost $85 a year. I recently bought a decent second-hand mountain bike for $50 (before that I bought one for $25 that lasted 7 years).

streptomycin 13y ago
I can't speak for Hubway, but most municipal bike programs I've seen have bikes built like tanks, which must cost more than $50. I assume this is to minimize the maintenance costs that must be inherent in a system where the bike users have nearly no incentive to take care of the bikes. And, of course, you still have maintenance costs even for these tank-bikes.
- Pxtl 13y ago
  Here in Hamilton we're getting SoBi - their bikes actually contain cellphone and GPS components so they can phone home with their position. That's more maintenance and service costs.
- hubway 13y ago
  Hubway bikes have often been described like that, as "tanks." They are 42 lbs each, designed like that on purpose to be stable & steady street bikes for riders of different skill levels. They do, indeed, cost more than $50, but a lot of that is the technology involved with the docking/rental system, moreso than to minimize maintenance. Alta Bicycle Share, the system that operates Hubway for the metro-Boston region, employees a full team of mechanics and field staff to do regular maintenance, including a full service during the winter months, on the entire fleet of 1300+ bikes.
traughber 13y ago
I live in SF and have both a personal commuter bike, and a BABS membership. When I factor in the convenience of not having to do any maintenance on the BABS bike, don't have to worry about fixing any flat tires, don't have to worry about theft (a big problem in SF), and can quickly dock a bike where I'm going, $88 a year feels like a very good deal. The only thing preventing me from going 100% BABS is the network of stations in SF is very sparse and located mostly downtown (see: https://twitter.com/ptraughber/status/388368763281625089 https://twitter.com/ptraughber/status/388368763281625089).

ldarcyftw 13y ago

What about winters? I'm under impression it can get quite rough in Boston (possibly to the point that health risks will outweight the benefits).

cauterize 13y ago
The Hubway stations are removed before winter.
- mpapi 13y ago
  They kept the Cambridge ones open this year, though, and it seemed like they were still regularly used.
carbocation 13y ago
Interestingly, in the winters the streets seem much cleaner much faster than the sidewalks. In fact, pedestrians get to deal with snow plowed off of the streets. I know a few residents who bike to work from Cambridge to MGH (over the Longfellow bridge) year-round.
Kiro 13y ago
In Scandinavia people take the bike even in snow storms. Just put on winter tires and you're safe.
mpapi 13y ago
If you're used to riding in traffic, it's not really any riskier than other seasons -- they salt the roads heavily and tend to have the main ones pretty clear the day after a storm. Probably the riskiest part (as a commuter) was that with shorter days, I was often riding home well after sunset.
Pxtl 13y ago
Ironically, many of the best cycling cities in the world have terrible winters. Montreal, Copenhagen, Dublin - not exactly tropical climates. They manage.
dimatura 13y ago

qeorge 13y ago

In Greensboro, NC, Greensboro Housing Coalition is a non-profit that wants everyone to have safe housing, regardless of income levels. A common problem with low-income housing is cockroaches, bad insulation, and other conditions which lead to a much higher rate of asthma in children who grow up in such homes. They are putting together a study to test whether improving the condition of these home would reduce the incidence of asthma in affected children (and the costs associated with the resulting frequent hospital visits) so much as to be a more cost effective use of Medicaid funds. If the study finds that this is the case, and their experience suggests that will, the end goal is to enable doctors to prescribe home inspections and improvements, and for those actions to be paid for by medicaid/insurance. It would be a clear win/win: healthier children and lower costs across the board. If this interests you, please consider a donation to http://greensborohousingcoalition.com http://greensborohousingcoalition.com . They are an excellent organization that will make efficient use of your donation.

dmm 13y ago
The US is so afraid of socialism it has to medicalize every social problem so that it can be helped. That really does sounds like a good program and this is not a criticism, just an observation. http://thelastpsychiatrist.com/2010/11/the_terrible_awful_truth_about_1.html http://thelastpsychiatrist.com/2010/11/the_terrible_awful_tr...

letrerrr 13y ago

How about prescribing nutrient rich food?

Shivetya 13y ago
One thing at a time. I like this idea because it encourages activity, not just exercise but just being out. With all the various aid programs we have institutionalized poverty. For far too many we have nearly found the least cost to society to idle a large portion of it. To give them just enough to exist, just enough to not want to resort taking from others, but too much so that they don't have a need or desire to live. Its a drug. Here, watch some tv, enjoy that boxed dinner in your microwave, we will even help you with a place to stay. All you have to is stay out of sight, be quiet and it will all be okay

brianstorms 13y ago

Now, if we can only get doctors to prescribe stopping at stop signs.

scoofy 13y ago
Now, if we can only get doctors to prescribe not speeding. #replacebikewithcar
drpgq 13y ago
Prescribing Idaho stops would be even better.