A Healthier Delaware

Walkable, bikeable communities connect to healthier communities

BY LORI SPEED

MEASURING THE IMPACT of employees practicing a healthier lifestyle versus those who don’t is no simple thing. Researchers indicate that exercise can have a positive impact on employees and the success of businesses.

What those researchers can’t agree on is how to define the impact. Some say employees who are physically active demonstrate better moods. Others conclude that fit employees may show an increase in productivity. But let’s not forget about possible lower stress levels, a feeling of overall health and wellbeing, a possible reduction in health care costs, and reduced downtime. The list of things to study just keeps growing. But those who study health and wellness can’t seem to find a way to quantify the impact.

While Bike Delaware is not in the business of studying or implementing health and wellness programs, we are happy that the impact of the work done by a very small nonprofit in a small state has the potential for a big impact on Delaware, it’s businesses and workers. But what has that work included and how has it evolved?

Over the past 12 years, Bike Delaware has been working with community members, local and state officials, outside engineers, other states, and bicycle advocacy groups to create bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure throughout the state. From trails for recreation to pathways linking communities, we’ve steadily made headway towards a walkable, bikeable Delaware for everyone.

We’ve engaged, studied, and listened with a focus on three topics. The first is developing opportunities to create walkable, bikeable, transit-dense, complete communities where cars are not needed. The second area of focus is on creating lower stress bicycle networks that address a variety of cyclist types and their goals. Thirdly, the Everyone Gets Home movement brings people together to find solutions to our growing traffic death problem in the state.

The “glamour side” has been the very visible success of trail development. The trails are mostly known by those who enjoy and use them for the recreational side of cycling and walking, and we think that’s great! The dual June 2023 announcements of a combined $44 million in grant funding is all about the “nitty gritty” of the work and we think that might be even better. The funds allocated to expand the Jack Markell Trail from Wilmington to Newport in New Castle County and Lewes to Georgetown in Sussex County will have the additional benefit of finally providing safe transit between communities for people who are looking for a practical, low-cost way to get from point A to point B, and back again.

In the end, whether it’s for fun or practicality, safer pathways for recreational and commuting cyclists and pedestrians have the potential to help support a healthier Delaware.

Lori Speed is the marketing and communications director at Bike Delaware, a nonprofit that advocates for safe, convenient and fun bicycling and walking for everyone.