Durham moving forward with "Bike Boulevards" program for safety

Submitted by scharrison on

Because two wheels are much better for you than four:

Bike boulevards, which have been created in cities like Portland, Ore. and Berkeley Calif., would turn some neighborhood streets across the urban core of Durham into preferred routes for the bicyclists – directing bikers off car-heavy streets and toward quieter routes. Durham is hoping to create at least 7 miles of these bike boulevards in the coming years to help safely move bicyclists more easily from north Durham to south Durham.

That “one-street-over” concept is currently exemplified by Watts Street in the Trinity Park neighborhood, which became the first bicycle boulevard in the city in 2016. On that street, the city has put pavement markings and street signs directing cyclists to use that road and letting motor vehicles know the street is a preferred bicycle route.

We've just begun to discuss something like this in my (relatively) small town, and (believe it or not) we have some challenges that Durham may not have. Our Main St. is just a stone's-throw away from a busy rail line, and we have two state highways that converge right in the middle of downtown. Coming up with alternate routes without taking bikers too far away from that hub has turned out to be not nearly as easy as I originally pictured. But since we're hoping to get more density in the downtown via mixed use (retail & residential), we need to figure it out pretty soon.

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Got stress? Ride a bike.

Submitted by scharrison on

Not only does this form of exercise help with cardiovascular and upper respiratory health, the release of endorphins can keep you from losing your fricking mind:

Your body produces its own pain-relieving substance called endorphins to help you cope with pain and stress. Endorphins also make you feel happier and more relaxed when their levels increase. Understanding the different ways to increase your endorphin levels may help you find effective ways of dealing with stress.

Your body regulates the way you feel with chemicals called neurotransmitters. Your body contains different types of neurotransmitters, each with its own role. Endorphins are one such neurotransmitter. When your body releases endorphins, they bind to specialized receptors that trigger two actions. This process blocks the neurotransmitters that cause you to experience pain. It also makes your brain release more of the neurotransmitter dopamine, which causes you to feel pleasure.

It's important to note the difference between endorphins, which are endogenous opoids, and such exogenous opoids as morphine or Vicodin, which bind to the same receptors as endorphins. Endogenous describes something that originates from within your body, whereas exogenous indicates a substance originating outside your body. So, endorphins are part of your body's natural way of moderating pain, whereas pain medications are not.

That is your unqualified medical advice for the day, use it wisely...