"What is the value of a bike path? What's the value of commuting without polluting? What's the value of a good walk, a long run or a pleasant bike ride? What's the value of clean air? What's the value of a healthy life?"

Recently, these questions were posed in the Napa Valley Register in an opinion by Tim Thulin titled "Bike paths; A step in right direction." Apparently, some local folks in the Napa area view bike trails as costly/wasteful projects used by a select few and Tim's opinion was an attempt to explain the benefits of multi-use trails.

Though Tim's opinion was sound, he didn't assess the value of the bike trail in dollars and cents. As people pay attention to money, I thought it worthwhile to demonstrate how a trail can easily pay for itself by cutting healthcare costs. Here's what I wrote:

A bike trail may sound expensive - until we consider the role that it can play in keeping health care costs in check.

We Americans are more obese and inactive than ever. As a result, diabetes, strokes, heart attacks, etc. are all on the rise. Sure, we can control many diseases/illnesses with medication, surgery, etc. but that is costly. For example, the average open heart surgery costs $150,000. If building a $10 million bike trail prevents the need for just 67 open heart surgeries, the trail has paid for itself. Such is the value of exercise.

If we are going to reverse unhealthy behaviors like overeating, healthy behaviors must be more attractive. Bike trails make walking, jogging & biking more attractive, providing a car free place for families, seniors, etc. to exercise/recreate.

Respectfully,
Larry Lagarde
RideTHISbike.com
Urging bicycling for recreation, commuting, health and a better future.

Labels: bike trail benefits, fitness, healthcare, Napa Valley, obesity, open heart surgery