By Nick Block
Staff Writer
Get your vitals here! The secret to living healthier and longer is out with the introduction of Vitality City, which plans on implementing bike paths and racks in the South Bay.
The Vitality City committee is responsible for some of the most recent health programs in Manhattan Beach, Redondo Beach and Hermosa. Backed by intensive research, Vitality City has taken an initiative to better understand that small changes in people’s behavior can lead to longer and healthier lives.
“Vitality City gives the resources that make it easier to make healthier choices,” Bike Rack Group leader Bill Hoary said.
National Geographic and Vitality City created The Blue Zones Project. Through this project, researchers have been identifying which communities across the world have large populations of people that reach the age of one-hundred. Many of these communities have a healthy environment without typical environmental issues such as pollution, so the people live longer.
Researchers have identified many other factors that contribute to a population’s health, whether it is a small change in daily routine or a difference in the environment that lead to healthier lives. This research helps determine which programs are needed in the three beach cities.
“Research is a major factor in Vitality City’s decisions,” co-leader of Bike Project Dawn Wilcox said. “New bike lanes and bike racks have the possible long term effect of increasing people’s life spans.”
Leadership Manhattan Beach, an organization focused on willing leardership qualities in local students, has been working hand-in-hand with Vitality City to install bike rack’s throughout the community. With the installation of bike racks in beach cities, Leadership Manhattan Beach hopes that more people will have a safe place to park their bikes. However, since more people have been riding their bikes for exercise, there is an even greater need for more bike racks.
“We only had enough funds to put in a limited supply of bike racks because the plan is completely run by volunteers,” facilitator of the Bike Rack Program Kathleen Terry said. “There are a lot of people that are asking for even more bike racks, so we are glad that we indentified this need and hope to impliment more in the future.”
Vitality City’s other programs include Maoi walking and walking school buses. Maoi walking allows neighbors to put together walking groups. The walking school bus forms walking groups for children directed by one or two volunteers.
Vitality City volunteers have found that these programs help with exercise and socializing in the community.
“Vitality City has discovered that social networks can help you live longer,” Hoary said. “As you age you tend to have fewer friends to do outdoor activities with, so through a strong network you have more of an incentive to stay active.”
Vitality City is also responsible for the implementation of a program to create better food choices. Restaurants and schools have been considering healthier options for their menus and school lunches. The Blue Zone researchers have identified different areas that create bad eating habits.
“We have put a lot of thought into healthier eating habits,” Hoary said. “Vitality City has been encouraging restaurants to offer food on smaller plates and to make healthier desserts.”
LMB has recelntly focused on Vitality City projects. Such projects include: volunteer Mira Costa students who are eager to protect the environment and allow people to have healthy lifestyles.
“I hope that adding bike lanes and bike racks to the city will help take cars off the road and decrease pollution levels,” senior Travis Taylor said. “If Vitality City works to its full potential everyone will be able to live healthier and longer lives.”
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