I bike to work in DC (over 11 miles each way) 3-4 times per week. I'm 44, and I feel like I'm in better shape than I was in my 20s.

There are quite a few of us out on the Capital Crescent Trail each day. The more treacherous part is city street riding, where the car drivers are clearly frustrated and sometimes take it out on us with an undeserved loud honk or purposeful close call. Maybe if they rode a bike to work.....

I would love to bike to work, but Baltimore streets are not very biker-friendly, at least on the route I would have to take (not sure about everywhere else). It's so frustrating. People fly down St. Paul as if they were on the highway, and there are no bike lanes. So it would be me and my bike against parked cars to my right and speeding cars to my left. Since I moved here last year I have not been brave enough to get my bike out to go to work.

Sarah,
You are right about the dearth of biker-friendly elements on the Baltimore streets. I live in Fells Point and bike to work a mile and half one way.(I am 57 years old and in 6 months, my "bad Cholesterol" fell 50 points...) Pratt Street has a pretty good bike lane, when not blocked by police cars, city utility vehicles, and taxies...the Inner Harbor Promenade is off limits to bikes after 10 AM Mon-Friday, but at least I can use it one way.(Why can't there be a bike lane through the Promenade??) The worst part of my commute is the half dozen blocks after the Pratt St. lane ends. I use the sidewalk when I can, but that's illegal and pedestrians are kind of clueless about sharing their sidewalk, just as they are about sharing the bike lane. (They are oblivious.) Still, I really treasure being able to ride to work. I wish the City would expand the bike lanes. There's a tentative one along the Jonesway (parallel to the Jones Falls), but other than that, not much on this side of town.

as a primary care doc this is one of the most difficult areas to help folks change (smoking cessation is the hardest). I believe just about any increase in phsical activity is worthwhile. so getting off the bus/train a stop or 2 sooner, using the stairs, or a "walk break" in lieu of coffee can all help break the sedantary cycle.

I am fortunate to be able to walk to a great job from my Baltimore home. True, it's only a ten minute walk - at best. Still, that's a 20 minute walk a day.

It is amazingly difficult to integrate regular physical activity into the typical american lifestyle. I know far more people who would bike if they could, than those that can, but choose not to. My family does not live in a far flung suburb, but we are a two income household, and that means living in a place that made both of the commutes to our suburban offices tolerable. We actually live in the city and commute north to Hunt Valley and south to Columbia. This is a very typical situation among people I know. Living near your job is not usually an option. I'm very frustrated by the 'blame the victim' attitude regarding lifestyle and exercise, when most of us desperately want to do the right thing, but our society seems designed to make it difficult.

I'm sad to say that Baltimore is the least bike-friendly place I've ever lived. I've never been threatened or yelled at just for riding my bike until I moved here.

I commute by bike 17 miles r/t daily and I absolutely love it! With the aimlessly wandering tourists, police cars, delivery vehicles, and taxi cabs aside, the Pratt St. part of my commute is where I feel safest. I wish more roads in Baltimore would have such a great bike lane.

On another note, it would be nice to be able to take bikes on the free "commuter" water taxi in the morning as well.

I bike to work when I can -- 10 mi. round trip, and have been doing it for about 10 years, now. It definitely puts me in a better state of mind when I am able to do it!

Also, I definitely think there are more people on bikes in Baltimore then at any time in the 10 years I have been doing it, which to me is exciting!

For St. Paul St., try riding on the left side. The space in the lane next to the parked cars provides something of a makeshift bike lane, and he pavement is smoother.

Kelly Brewington,

My answer for your question..Any signs of that happening here? Do you walk or bike to work?

>> Ofcourse do you walk..
hehe

Pangitson,

Confession: I don't walk or bike to work. I actually commute to Baltimore from the DC suburbs, so I have little choice in the matter. But, I do try, whenever possible, to do little things like park in the farthest space in the parking lot in order to get a little bit of a workout. I admit, this is somewhat pathetic. ;)

I could not agree with this article more. A year ago my blood pressure was through the roof. Doc said I had to get active or face the consequences. I live too far away from work to just start riding or walking, so I picked up a folding bike from Montague. I put it in the trunk and still drive part way to work, then pull it out and ride the rest of the way in. Since I've started my bp has been drastically lowered and i've been extending the riding part of my commute more and more...

Portland Oregon is a great city for bike/walking to work. Downtown has tons of great bike paths that allow you to access the entire city without the feeling of getting run off the road.

Jeremy Mowe
www.BreakTheCycleFitness.com

The idea of the foldong bike is a gteat one! I work from my home office but try to bike at lunch when I can.

Any exercise does keep one healty, but you must not rely only on just exercising, a good meal also is a plus, one must eat 5 types of fruits and vegetables per day to have a healthy daily balance diet.