people need to exercise in order to be healthy, but they generally don’t
Some of the reasons for that are relatively modern. Sedentary jobs and also sedentary commuting (car-centric travel), lack of robust+accessible infrastructure (for instance the trail local to me is still closed from ~6months ago, uncertain end). That and most food that isn’t made-from-scratch having a ton of added sugar, even things like bread and ketchup that people consider staple foods.
A lot of that goes away when you can just throw money at it (or said benefits are thrown at you). Time and space end up being a result of money too, particularly when money is a limit which is true for most people.
I think I largely agree with your assessment that modern society and all its benefits mean that people get less day to day exercise via “normal” routine but I feel like I have to disagree that not having a local trail makes people unable to exercise. There’s people in NYC who run miles and miles every day. It’s possible anywhere.
I was speaking for my personal situation (I have not left the house since then), the important bit about the trail is about having a destination and not needing to ride a bike on roads (particularly in a rural area w/larger distance).
NYC is a completely different scenario, and being able to walk (w/public transport too) fills that same niche. Also bike lanes and parks.
I also like riding a bike because of health issues, it’s lower impact and faster (more airflow plus the trail is mostly shaded). That and I don’t want to jog near the road or in a ditch. Also I don’t think I could walk as far as I’ve biked before (11 miles and then back again), even just for the fact there’s just something so boring and uncomfortable about walking even a block (at least around here, I don’t remember walking in the city being like that, maybe scenery or smooth/level footing helps).
Some of the reasons for that are relatively modern. Sedentary jobs and also sedentary commuting (car-centric travel), lack of robust+accessible infrastructure (for instance the trail local to me is still closed from ~6months ago, uncertain end). That and most food that isn’t made-from-scratch having a ton of added sugar, even things like bread and ketchup that people consider staple foods.
A lot of that goes away when you can just throw money at it (or said benefits are thrown at you). Time and space end up being a result of money too, particularly when money is a limit which is true for most people.
I think I largely agree with your assessment that modern society and all its benefits mean that people get less day to day exercise via “normal” routine but I feel like I have to disagree that not having a local trail makes people unable to exercise. There’s people in NYC who run miles and miles every day. It’s possible anywhere.
I was speaking for my personal situation (I have not left the house since then), the important bit about the trail is about having a destination and not needing to ride a bike on roads (particularly in a rural area w/larger distance).
NYC is a completely different scenario, and being able to walk (w/public transport too) fills that same niche. Also bike lanes and parks.
I also like riding a bike because of health issues, it’s lower impact and faster (more airflow plus the trail is mostly shaded). That and I don’t want to jog near the road or in a ditch. Also I don’t think I could walk as far as I’ve biked before (11 miles and then back again), even just for the fact there’s just something so boring and uncomfortable about walking even a block (at least around here, I don’t remember walking in the city being like that, maybe scenery or smooth/level footing helps).