Our Bicycling Guide writes a rant about statements by the US Secretary of Transportation that don't support transportation money spent on bike paths and walking trails. I've listened to such rants on my local talk stations for many years. Such talk is an extreme disservice to the fattening American population.

If You Build It, They Will Come
Having a safe and pleasant path to walk to school, local shops and services, or just out for an exercise walk or bike is critical to getting people active. Local talkster Lars Larson continuously rants about the money spent to build Portland's Eastbank Esplanade and Oaks Bottom walking/biking paths along the Willamette River downtown. These paths are always packed with taxpaying walkers, joggers and bikers, using it for their commute or for exercise.

The Esplanade is one more factor that makes downtown Portland a pleasant place to live and visit. Was it a "waste" of taxpayer money, or an investment in keeping more of us from becoming 300-pounders? By the way, Lars struggles with his own weight challenges... I truly wonder in those who rant about these trails ever actually get on them and use them and see the taxpayers out enjoying the heck out of these trails.

I've seen many walking and biking paths built in Portland and Vancouver the past 20 years, and walk them weekly with my walking buddies. Each path is full of people walking their dogs, jogging, biking. Bike paths are not for the elite in spandex, they are filled with us common folks who need to stretch our legs and try to achieve the minimum exercise requirements needed for good health. We need safe and pleasant places to walk and bike, or we will just sit at home getting fatter and fatter.

I'm Pro-Walking, Not Anti-Car
I've been to a couple of pedestrian conferences, and many activists know they tread a fine line with the public because many of them are personally anti-car. I am definitely not anti-car, I prefer living in the less-dense suburbs where you need a car to get into town and to work. But I also want there to be good, safe, and pleasant walking and biking from my doorstep. And there should be a safe route to school for kids to walk or bike to keep them from becoming the obese adults of tomorrow.

A Leaner Tomorrow Needs Walking and Biking Paths Today
Make fitness walking and biking convenient and pleasant and you help solve the obesity epidemic. I am proud that some of my tax money goes into building walking and biking paths. I can't think of a better way to encourage people to go out their own front door and keep off the extra pounds. And in the process, they make the neighborhood safer, chase away crime, and encourage their neighbors to get out and enjoy the outdoors as well.

• Pedestrian Activism Organizations