Thank you to the Tribune Editorial Board for raising questions about the sidewalk policy under consideration. It’s always best when debate occurs openly and directly.

We all easily know the cost of constructing a sidewalk — cement, labor and landscaping around the new construction. It’s an up-front investment you as a community are making.

I would argue that it’s a smart and cost-effective investment that will help improve the health and longevity of your residents — and make your community a more attractive place to live and raise a family.

What we don’t see as easily as the up-front construction costs are the hidden costs of incomplete sidewalks. For Albert Lea, the costs of missing sidewalks are substantial. Simply put, missing sidewalks and bike lanes contribute to obesity, cardiovascular disease and a myriad of other costly and preventable health issues.

Missing sidewalks and bike lanes in a city reduce physical activity, while complete systems increase activity and reduce obesity. When residents have access to “non-auto” transportation and recreation, experts project a 5 percent median net increase in aerobic exercise — and a 48 percent increase in the frequency of physical activity.

Data abounds about health costs, but since obesity is perhaps the least understood, consider the following from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention:

For 2008 U.S. medical costs of obesity are estimated to cost $147 billion — about $500 per U.S. citizen annually.

 Obesity has been linked to a 36 percent increase in health care spending, costing more than health care related to smoking or drinking.

 Research showed that obese workers had 183.63 lost workdays per 100 full-time employees, compared to normal weight workers who had 14.19 lost workdays per 100 full-time employees.

Looking forward for the lifespan of a sidewalk (50-plus years) we need to consider the costs of inactive, unhealthy kids. Children in Albert Lea — like the rest of the United States — have rapidly growing obesity rates. More startling is the onset of diabetes. What’s causing this? Among top factors is the reduction in childhood activity.

Kids used to play outside and walk more. One study found that nationally from 1969 to 2000, the percent of children who walk or bicycle to school fell from 48 percent to 13 percent with poor walking environment, travel time, and safety among the leading barriers listed in 2000. Anecdotal evidence in Albert Lea shows an even bigger drop from over 80 percent to under 10 percent.

So what’s the cost? Depending on insurance coverage, a family can easily spend $30 to $100 per month on medications and diabetes care. Emergency care can cost thousands of dollars per family. These expenses last a lifetime — and much of it was preventable.

Complete sidewalk and bike lane systems increase activity and health. Quantitative estimates of the impact of access to non-auto transportation and recreation projected a 5 percent median net change in aerobic capacity and 48 percent increase in the frequency of physical activity.

Again, there is no silver bullet to improve health, but a monopoly of auto-only, limited sidewalk transportation undermines a free market for healthier choices. One of the nine lessons for longevity from Blue Zones around the world is to move naturally throughout the day. The Vitality Project at its core is about creating an environment where people have healthy choices available. Nothing is mandatory. Let’s focus on actually tightening belts literally through better health, which will lower costs.

Beyond dollar facts and health, sidewalks connect people, making communities stronger and help people live better, longer. The point is best summarized by Catherine Buboltz, a volunteer helping coordinate the over 700 Albert Leans who are out in the Walking Moais this summer. She states:

“There is a wonderful transformation taking place in Albert Lea, and I for one am very excited to be part of it. The number of folks walking and biking around this town is phenomenal. I attribute a lot of this outdoor activity to the wonderful job our city is doing in providing safe places for our community to walk and bike. As a Nordic walking instructor, I’m thrilled to have safe sidewalks to lead groups on walks of our city without disrupting traffic or creating an unsafe situation. Thanks much to our city leadership for providing a safe and healthy environment for our community.”

I, too, congratulate Albert Lea for looking to the future and making smart and cost-effective decisions about sidewalks.

Joel Spoonheim is the health initiative director for the AARP/Blue Zones Vitality Project.