Taking The Stairs Will Save Us All

Photo at MoMA by Jen Carlson/Gothamist

Wait a second... aren't we thinner than the rest of the country, what with not having easy snack access? There's always room to be healthier, however, and the NY Post reports that an environmental panel can save us from gaining a total of 550,000 pounds per year. Their slimming solution is simple: use the stairs!

Their suggestion was one of many in a newly released report devised to make buildings more eco-friendly while promoting fitness. The NYC Green Codes Task Force wants stair access in our buildings increased—but more so than just opening the doors (as City Health Commissioner Thomas Farley did last year), they want more visible signage and transparent glass used to draw people to them. This would hopefully make using the stairs less of an afterthought.

One spokesman said, "Buildings are actually very important to the amount of exercise we do, and over the past century, fossil fuels [and technology] have replaced human power. Where we once walked up stairs, we now take an elevator. Where we once played outside, kids now play video games." The report says promoting stairs would cost little (some buildings already have signs that read "Burn Calories, Not Electricity. Take the Stairs!"), and in the end would help to prevent 18% of the city's average annual weight gain.

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By Jen Carlson in News on February 2, 2010 10:30 AM

Comments [rss]

Spirit of 76

More transparent glass around stairs? I guess the Apple Stores are ahead of the curve.

nicemarmot

The buildings I've worked in tend to have locked staircases. I would have just climbed the four flights of stairs to the most recent one, but after my coworker got trapped in the staircase, I decided to just stick with the elevator.

Spirit of 76

How do you get trapped in stairs? The lobby door at least has to be unlocked. It would be illegal to completely lock a space like a stairwell that happens to be a fire escape route.

nicemarmot

The lobby door was locked. And yes, it was completely illegal. It was so comforting working in that office and knowing the extremely fat super's comfort was far more important than everyone in the building not dying if it caught fire.

Spirit of 76

Oops. Marshal.

Spirit of 76

So report it to the authorities. Call 311. They'll have a fire marshall there lickety split to write up the building. Better to actually do something about it than to just say you won't take the stairs anymore. Are you going to let the lobby door stayed locked until you actually have a fire and do a Triangle Shirtwaist?

LaliP

taking the stairs, what a novel idea. i used to be claustrophobic (had no choice but to get over it living in nyc)and HATED taking elevators. would make my heart race and i'd almost physically shake. i've always been aggravated that taking elevators are mandatory and stairs are for "emergency only". i at least understand the reasoning now--that there are people who want to blow up buildings. but even buildings in cities no one cares about forces you to take the elevators. stupid.