Getting active ideas from round the world

As part of an initiative launched by the local city government to combat the nation’s obesity crisis, health officials have set up 30 health stations in subway and bus hubs around Mexico City. The stations feature machines that are equipped with a motion sensor to measure the number of squats people complete. At the same time users are given health messages about healthy lifestyle choices e.g. swapping sugary drinks for water and to exercise daily. Once they’ve finished, the device gives squatters a receipt that can be exchanged for a subway or bus fare. Mexico City has also opened 300 outdoor gyms and distributed more than 70,000 free pedometers. Council officials estimate that these initiatives are helping around 90,000 citizens to become more physically active.

A similar scheme was introduced as part of a wider campaign to encourage Russians to exercise regularly before the Sochi Olympics in February 2014. Commuters at Vystavochnaya station in Moscow were being given free metro tickets in return for performing 30 ‘Olympic-standard’ squats within a two-minute time limit. A supervisor was on hand to ensure the commuters were not slacking in their squats and a single ticket, worth 30 rubles (57p), was printed out if the challenge was successfully completed.

Meanwhile in France mobile phone charging bike stations have been installed in many main train stations. Travellers can peddle in order to generate electricity which then charges their mobile phone. The harder you peddle, the faster your phone gets charged! This technology is also marketed at shopping centres, hospitals etc. – any public area where people might appreciate being able to charge their mobile phone while exercising and socialising at the same time.