Hacker News Reader

Agreed. People riding busses and trains for 10+ hours per week aren't exactly in better shape than people with equivalent car commutes.

View on HN

People living in sprawl and in nonwalkable places are more likely to be overweight, get less exercise, and spend less time walking

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2629517/

I was talking about work life balance and discretionary time, not physical fitness.

Also some people have physical abilities such that walking is not a valid lifestyle choice. For instance, two year olds.

I'm pro-walkable spaces. But it's not across the board superior to other arrangements.

Normally walkability also correlates with density of both businesses and houses which also encourages people to live closer to where they work. Compare that to a business park in the middle of the suburbs which requires a long distance commute to reach it.

> For instance, two year olds.

Probably easier to push a child on a stroller through a walkable area than to put it in a car and drive to a location. Less time-consuming and better for the environment as well.

As well as walkable spaces being better for the elderly who can't legally drive and the handicapped who can't legally drive as well.

Reply on news.ycombinator.com