By Jim Stone, Executive Director of Circulate San Diego

Getting active doesn’t always mean going to the gym. Active transportation, such as walking and cycling, can have positive, sustainable benefits for individuals and communities. In fact, using public transportation can help you lead a more active lifestyle. Choosing to leave your car at home can lead not only to health benefits for you, but also cleaner air, fewer vehicle crashes and closer connections to neighbors.  

“Working out” might not be feasible, but having safe, affordable and accessible options to walk or bike to school, work or a transit stop can make it a little easier to get the recommended thirty minutes of physical activity each day. Research shows that people who live in neighborhoods with sidewalks are twice as likely to be physically active compared to those without, and public transit users take 30% more steps per day than those who drive. Walking or biking to work can help to reduce your risk of cardiovascular disease by more than 10%. 

Circulate San Diego works to promote public and active transportation, and to accommodate sustainable growth. We work with local governments, school districts, planning firms and other non-profits to promote programs and land use policies that support sustainable and healthy transportation choices for all San Diegans. With programs like Safe Routes to School, The MOVE Alliance and Vision Zero, we collaborate with partners to ensure that streets are safe for every mode of transportation and accessible for all ages, abilities and backgrounds.

Join us in reading this month’s Live Well San Diego Newsletter, which highlights partners who are working to make it easier and more enjoyable to get active in the San Diego region.