110833841
To the Editor:
In December 2013, state Rep. Jordan A. Harris kicked off the ‘Bike 186’ campaign, a multi-phase initiative created to help young people in the 186th Legislative District to get an early jump-start of building healthy lifestyles by getting active. He distributed 200 bikes to young people living in his district, urging them and their families to make cycling a regular part of their lives.
Now as we enter the second phase of the ‘Bike 186’ campaign, Rep. Harris asks the youth of District 186 and their parents to hop on their new bikes and join him as he commits to cycling 25 miles every week. Harris keeps a bike of his own in both his Philadelphia and Harrisburg offices. On days he can not venture outdoors, Harris will use a stationary bike. Each Friday, he will track his weekly mileage via Facebook. He asks that followers match his weekly goal of 25 miles, and share their accomplishments as well as photos of themselves on their bike. To follow Harris’ progress or share ‘Bike 186’ goals, visit: facebook.com/RepJordanHarris
As spring approaches, the ‘Bike 186’ campaign will focus on tackling harder issues, including nutrition and lifestyle changes in order to help children cultivate healthy, well-balanced lives.
In addition to providing hundreds of disadvantaged youth with bikes, Harris has helped to secure funding to expand the Schuylkill River Trail in his district. The Schuylkill River Trail was named one of America’s best bike trails by The Active Times. Access to the trail will provide the district’s youth with miles of safe and beautiful space to ride their new bicycles this spring.
Today, nearly one in three children in America is overweight or obese. Child obesity rates have tripled among school-aged children and adolescents over the past 30 years. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, obesity rates among preschoolers are falling in many states, but Pennsylvania is one of three states where they rose from 2008 to ’11.
According to Discovery News, cycling has been associated with increased weight loss, mental health, and cardiovascular and muscular fitness in individuals who ride bicycles regularly. The sport has also been linked to improving overall health within communities. An ’11 study in the American Journal of Public Health found that “communities with more walkers and cyclists are healthier than those where people must rely on cars to get around.”
The Office of state Rep. Jordan Harris
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