Interesting Fact of the Day: We Walk Slower Now
"For years, traffic lights nationwide were timed to the stride of the average pedestrian, who covered 4 feet of ground per second, according to federal research carried out in the 1950s. A couple of years ago, however, the Federal Highway Administration urged traffic engineers to recalibrate to an average stride of 3.5 feet per second, after new research showed that Americans' average walking pace had slowed over the decades. That would give elderly walkers more time to cross safely."
10 Comments:
Older population + obesity = slower people
"Older population + obesity = slower people"
My take:
Older population + obesity + idleness = slower people
It's a baby-boomer thing -- simple demographics.
Oh, yeah...
We're also living longer.
Might make sense to actually shorten the time to cross the walk. The more elderly dispatched in a crosswalk, the less money spent on Medicare.
Benjamin,
Why not put all traffic signals on a random timer? You could put lawn chairs next to intersections and charge admission to the show :-)
"Might make sense to actually shorten the time to cross the walk. The more elderly dispatched in a crosswalk, the less money spent on Medicare."
There are additional benefits in the form of increased business for funeral homes, and auto body repair shops.
I wonder if Krugman knows about this?
My take is that people finally figured out that walking is boring, time consuming, and really very pedestrian...
So why put more effort into walking than is necessary?
"My take is that people finally figured out that walking is boring, time consuming, and really very pedestrian...
So why put more effort into walking than is necessary?"
Or maybe they enjoy it more than before, as they now do it by choice, and want the experience to last as long as possible.
"Or maybe they enjoy it more than before, as they now do it by choice, and want the experience to last as long as possible"...
Seriously ye jest Ron H...:-)
"Seriously ye jest Ron H...:-)"
Yah, I jesteth.
Everyone I know who wants to actually get from one point to another, myself included, drives. Those I see walking appear to be doing so because they think it's healthy, and they generally move right along at a good clip.
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