Trek CEO thinks the government should play a bigger role in public health

Trek CEO, John Burke, spoke to Fortune about how bicycling could have a positive impact on the nation's health.

Transcript

00:00I think bicycling in the United States is important for a bunch of different reasons.

00:04Number one is just exercise.

00:06If you take a look at it today, 42% of Americans are obese.

00:10The government helped to bring smoking down.

00:15The government helped take care of drunk driving.

00:18I think the government can play a bigger role with the health of the American people.

00:23And the biggest aspect of that is getting people outside and getting people exercising.

00:29So I think that's one thing.

00:31You know, I just take a look at transportation.

00:33You know, a majority of car trips are two miles or less.

00:37And would you rather drive a car two miles or less, or would you rather be on a bike,

00:41or would you rather be walking?

00:43In the United States, if we define a car trip, and we say going to work, going to school,

00:49going to the restaurant, going to the market, 1.5% of trips are taken by bicycle.

00:54If you go to Holland, that number is 25%.

00:57And you have to say, from a societal standpoint, do we want more and more people driving cars,

01:02or would it be really good if people rode their bikes or walked?

01:07And I think for physical health, mental health, health care costs, we need to get the country

01:13moving.

01:14And I think cycling is one way that you can do that.

01:18Let's go.

01:19Let's go.

01:20Let's go.

01:21Let's go.

01:22Let's go.

01:23Let's go.

01:24Let's go.

01:25Let's go.

01:26Let's go.

01:27Let's go.