Do you live in a walkable neighborhood?
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Stepping out for a walk can be a good way to clear one’s head. And federal funds might be making your neighborhood more walkable soon: The 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act allocated $6.1 billion for walkability programs. Here’s more on the concept and why the government spends money on it.
- There are different ways to assess walkability. The National Highway Transportation Safety Board surveys Americans about their walking experience, driver behavior, and ease of crossing streets. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has a method for scoring an area’s walkability based on transit access, balance of housing and businesses, and more.
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- Eleven percent of the population, or 34.9 million people, live in what the EPA calls the “most walkable” areas. Another 121.7 million live in places with “below average walkability," and 75.1 million are in the “least walkable” areas.
- Most pedestrian fatalities — 74% — happen at non-intersection locations. The rate rose from a recent low of 68% in 2013 to 74% in 2021.
- The Safe Streets and Roads for All program is offering $5 billion through fiscal year 2026 for projects that add sidewalks, crosswalks, lights, pedestrian islands, signal improvements, and other enhancements.
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Are you getting enough sleep?
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The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says sleep is critical to one’s health, but getting enough rest is a challenge for many people. Whether it’s stress, lifestyle habits, or sleep environment, more than a third of adults are falling short of the recommended amount of sleep.
- In 2022, 36% of adults reported not getting the recommended seven or more hours of sleep nightly.
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- Guam and Hawaii have the highest rates of sleep-deprived adults, with 50.4% and 45.6%, respectively, reporting insufficient sleep. Vermont and Minnesota have the lowest rates, both at 29.6%.
- Sleep problems aren't limited to adults; in fact, 77% of high schoolers report insufficient sleep, more than twice the adult rate. This shortage is linked to depression, poor academic performance, and refraining from daily physical activity.
- Sleep disorders such as insomnia, narcolepsy, restless leg syndrome, and sleep apnea affect 50 to 70 million Americans.
- The CDC estimates that there are more than 6,000 fatal car crashes annually due to drowsy driving.
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2024 daylight saving time ended yesterday in 48 states. If you were wondering about this time change while setting back your clocks, read this article. |
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One last fact: Election edition
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According to the 2024 State of the Facts poll, Americans are least likely to trust the election information they get from artificial intelligence. Conversely, government certifications and national news networks are some of the most trusted sources. |
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