Why Sustainable Transportation Advocates Need to Talk about Long COVID (John Bolecek)
Sep 19, 2023
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John Bolecek, a former bicycle and pedestrian planner, discusses his battle with long COVID and how it impacted his active transportation lifestyle. The podcast explores the challenges individuals face with long COVID symptoms and the importance of inclusive transportation options despite accessibility barriers.
Long COVID can severely limit individuals' ability to walk or bike, emphasizing the importance of inclusive mobility solutions.
Around 5% of adults face limitations in activities due to long COVID, showcasing the significant impact of the condition.
Deep dives
Impact of Long COVID on Active Transportation Advocates
Long COVID can have debilitating effects on individuals like John Bledchak, who was previously the statewide bicycle and pedestrian coordinator for Virginia. After contracting long COVID, John experienced severe fatigue, forcing him to give up active transportation entirely and step down from his job. Despite his personal struggles, John emphasizes the importance of ensuring a full range of transportation options for Americans, even if not everyone can utilize them all the time.
Understanding Long COVID and its Effects
Long COVID, characterized by lasting symptoms after a COVID infection, varies in severity and impacts individuals differently. Symptoms like post-exertion malaise and POTS can severely limit a person's ability to engage in physical activity. Statistics indicate that around 5% of adults experience limitations in their activities due to long COVID, highlighting the significant impact of the condition.
Advocating for Inclusive Mobility Solutions
The parallels between addressing long COVID and traffic violence highlight the need for strong leadership and advocacy in both areas. John's experience with long COVID has reshaped his perspective on active transportation, emphasizing the importance of inclusive mobility solutions that accommodate individuals facing mobility challenges, whether temporary or permanent. Advocacy efforts should focus on creating accessible environments for all individuals, acknowledging the diverse needs within communities.
A lot of ink has been spilled on the long-term impact of COVID-19 on American transportation. But less has been spilled on the impcact of long COVID on individual people who walk and bike — and what happens when the disease makes active transportation impossible. On today's episode of "The Brake," Kea Wilson sits down with John Bolecek, who built his career in bicycle and pedestrian planning for the state of Virginia before a COVID-19 infection picked up from his son's daycare changed his life, despite the fact that he was "fit, vaccinated, and boosted. That initial infection eventually led to myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome that forces him to get around mostly by car — but it didn't lead to him questioning his commitment to building great places to bike and walk. Listen in, and check out the article that inspired this story at the Virginia Mercury.
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