As one of Los Angeles’ rare (but not unique) bicycle commuters, I’ve always felt the local drivers were particularly oblivious to the presence on the city’s streets of people on foot, bikes or anything but other motor vehicles. Turns out they really are – lethally so. LA drivers kill pedestrians in traffic accidents at triple the national rate, according to a recent study from the University of Michigan reported in the Los Angeles Times. (I could only find a link to the abstract of the actual study on the UM site.) Bikers are knocked off at double the national rate. No wonder nobody walks in LA.
Walking the Gantlet Keeps Us Plump
UPDATED: A policy brief finds increased obesity among the poor is likely tied to structural obstacles in better eating and exercising.