(Australia-NewsWire.Com, July 23, 2013 ) North South Wales, Australia -- New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg continued his fight against obesity last week after encouraging New Yorkers to take the stairs and skip the elevator.
Mayor Bloomberg, who has been nicknamed “Nanny Bloomberg” because of his stand against large sugary sodas, is now mandating that buildings be designed to promote increased physical activity.
Bloomberg announced his executive order at a press conference at The New School in NYC, which requires all City agencies to incorporate active design strategies when implementing major renovations or new construction.
Bloomberg told New Yorkers that “exercise is good for you.”
The mayor will also send two pieces of legislation to the city council that promote the use of stairs. One proposed bill will require building owners to give stair access to occupants and post signs near the elevator that promote stair use.
Another proposal would require access to stairways and would promote the stairs through the use of hold-open devices in at least one stairway per building.
The Center for Active Design, which is a nonprofit partially funded by the city, will assist in finding ways to design healthier buildings, create more inviting outdoor spaces and promote public transportation.
Design Commissioner David Burney explained in a press release that architects must do their part to fight obesity. With the active design movement, design professionals are asked to be part of the solution to find new ways of encouraging movement both inside and out, he said.
Bloomberg wants to make fitness more socially acceptable. He said it’s important to make exercise “cool.” He said that he rarely takes the elevator and keeps walking when using an escalator.
During his three terms as mayor, Bloomberg has supported a one-cent tax on sodas, passed a ban on outdoor smoking, created a program discouraging salt consumption and campaigned against school bake sales.
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