An interesting idea. It would be useful for purely recreational purposes where you are going out to cycle for just under half an hour. I don't know Boston - are there places to cycle that are handy to low income neighbourhoods that are safe and would not involve riding in the wake of exhaust-producing vehicles? That could be counter-productive for your health as your exertion makes you draw in deeper breaths of poisonous air. I wonder how useful it would be for running errands or as transportation to an appointment. Ironically, you probably couldn't use it to go to the appointment to get the prescription for the program - unless there was a bike depot at the doctor's and another one near your home so you could make it two separate 'trips', one there and one home. Are you able to use more than one bike at a time if you're going out as a family or with a friend? If so, it would provide social/health benefits as well as physical. Is it possible to book the bike in advance, which would allow pre-planning of an activity, or is it the luck of the draw that a bike will be there when you need it? Without a guarantee there will be a bike, people are unlikely to use it for fixed trips, i.e. those that have to happen at a certain time. You couldn't use it to meet your child at school or go to an appointment unless you had some certainty. The other big question is what happens if you go over the half hour allotted. Are there penalties - financial or otherwise? I recall having to pay $1 a minute if I was late picking my child up from day care. While that may have been a great incentive to be on time, the weather and traffic were rarely in my control and the income level that gave me a subsidized spot meant that penalties came out of non-fixed expense items like food and recreation. It definitely will be a huge benefit to those who can access it and use it safely. Certainly, the fact that it's unlimited trips makes it likely to become part of people's routines, rather than a once-in-a-while event, and it could become habit-forming. Linda. "Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It's not." Dr Seuss. ________________________________ From: Robert Rattle <[log in to unmask]> To: [log in to unmask] Sent: Wednesday, April 9, 2014 9:47:02 AM Subject: [SDOH] ‘Prescribe-a-Bike’ Coming To a Hospital N ear You comments? http://www.bostonmagazine.com/health/blog/2014/03/26/prescribe-bike-bmc-boston-hubway/ Doctors in Boston are alreadyprescribing “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/ ________________________________ Copyright © 2014 Metro To leave, manage or join list: https://listserv.yorku.ca/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=sdoh&A=1 To leave, manage or join list: https://listserv.yorku.ca/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=sdoh&A=1