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http://www.bostonmagazine.com/health/blog/2014/03/26/prescribe-bike-bmc-boston-hubway/
Doctors in Boston are
already
prescribing “outdoor time”
for kids, and starting Wednesday, physicians at Boston Medical Center
will be prescribing Hubway bikes as a means of transportation.
On Wednesday, the City of Boston
and the Boston Medical Center (BMC) announced the launch of
“Prescribe-a-Bike,” a new partnership to increase access to affordable
transportation for low-income Boston residents, and improve health at
the same time. “There is no other program like this in the
country,” says Mayor Marty Walsh. “Prescribe-a-Bike makes the link
between health and transportation, and ensures that more residents can
access the Hubway bike share system.”
Nicole Freedman, director of bicycle programs for the City of Boston,
says that they hope to enroll 1,000 low-income residents in the
subsidized Hubway membership program this year. She also says that other hospitals are interested in joining the program as well. “We
have already received some calls from other hospitals and health
clinics who are interested,” Freedman says. “It’s a new way to reach out
and promote health.”
The bike program is for all Boston residents , and the new program is
a way for the Hubway to expand its “family.” Freedman says that 13 of
the city’s 90 stations are in “low income” neighborhoods. “What we know
is that there’s been an incredible uptick in our subsidized membership
program,” she says.
Prescribe-a-Bike allows BMC medical
professionals to write prescriptions for Hubway memberships. Patients
pay only $5 for an annual membership, which entitles them to an
unlimited number of trips on Hubway bikes, as long as the bikes are used
for 30 minutes or less at a time. Subsidized members also receive a
free helmet.
“Obesity is a significant and growing health concern for our city,
particularly among low-income Boston residents,” said BMC President and
CEO Kate Walsh in a statement. “Statistics show that close to one in
four low-income Boston residents is obese, almost double the rate for
higher-income residents. Regular exercise is key to combating this
trend, and Prescribe-a-Bike is one important way our caregivers can help
patients get the exercise they need to be healthy.”
To qualify for the subsidized Hubway memberships, participants must
be Boston residents age 16 or older, and must either be receiving some
form of public assistance, or have a household income of no more than
400 percent of the poverty level.
Interested residents can get a subsidized coupon by reaching out
to their BMC medical professional or calling Boston Bikes at
617-918-4456.
Source URL: http://www.bostonmagazine.com/health/blog/2014/03/26/prescribe-bike-bmc-boston-hubway/
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