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Comment by dfgdghdf | Hacker News Reader

It's not just the sugar. In developed countries we have successfully removed all incidental exercise from our daily lives. Some examples:

* Drive short distances rather than walk

* Home deliveries rather than getting things ourselves

* Escalators and elevators everywhere

* Drive-thrus to avoid short walk across a parking lot

* Childrens' play restricted to indoors or small yards

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I'll add the disappearance of sidewalks, too. I can't walk a simple mile here to go to the store because there isn't a safe way of doing so. There is part of a sidewalk, but it doesn't extend all the way down a 35 MPH road. There are parts where one has to walk on the road to continue the journey.

Sidewalks used to be part of a normal subdivision, but I haven't seen a new subdivision here that has a single foot of a sidewalk.

It takes conscious effort to break this pattern, and I see otherwise healthy and fit people default to the escalators and elevators every day, people driving short (walkable/cycleable) distances to buy groceries and just a general avoidance of physical activity.

And I live in Copenhagen, so it's not like I don't see tons of people walking and riding bicycles, but a significant number of people seem to really want to avoid any sort of physical activity.

Making a promise to yourself to take the stairs, walk/cycle to the shops, park at the far end of the parking lot, walk up the escalators rather than just standing still, do all of those small things that add up and don't even feel like exercise, could be the best decision you make.

This is not a problem that was created by individual actions, and it won't be solved by them either. The bodies responsible for planning our infrastructure (roads, sidewalks, office buildings, etc) need to make "active" choices the most convenient. This could be as simple as making the elevator a little bit hidden (but still available for those who cannot use the stairs) whilst making the stairs look more inviting. Or ensuring that a direct and safe network of sidewalks is always available in our city centres. Or prioritizing pedestrian phases at traffic lights.

Oh yes, nudging and better design absolutely plays a huge part.

Just the fact that some stores and restaurants are basically impossible to walk to, because of missing sidewalks, makes me furious. So do "beg buttons" at pedestrian crossing.

But in the end, there also needs to be a personal choice to prioritize one's own health.

an admittedly silly pet peeve of mine are people who block flow on escalators, because i walk them to get somewhere faster (usually by getting in front of the standers who tend to be less focused).

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