888-765-5400BCBSNC Invests in Biking and Greenway Projects
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – In North Carolina, almost 30 percent of adults and more than 18 percent of children are obese. Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina (BCBSNC) launched Get Outside North Carolina (GO NC) to help reverse this trend. This four-year initiative will start by supporting biking and greenway projects to increase outdoor physical activity. Future efforts will include support for other outdoor initiatives across the state that encourage people to get moving.
GO NC will provide new ways to help increase outdoor physical activity in North Carolina, according to Brad Wilson, BCBSNC president and CEO. Every $1 spent building biking trails and walking paths can save about $3 in medical expenses. Through GO NC, BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD OF NORTH CAROLINA hopes to improve health and reduce obesity-related medical costs in North Carolina.
GO NC will kick off with three flagship programs: B-cycle in Charlotte, the Blue LoopSM in Raleigh and completion of the Gary Shell Cross-City Trail in Wilmington:
Charlotte B-Cycle:
BCBSNC and Charlotte Center City Partners have teamed up to make 200 bikes available for rent at 20 stations in Uptown Charlotte and surrounding neighborhoods.
BCBSNC customers are eligible for a 20-percent discount on year-long bike share memberships.
The program will become the first bike share program in North Carolina and the largest urban system in the southeast.
North Carolina Museum of Art’s Blue Loop:
The Blue Loop will complete a network of recreational trails in the Museum Park and connect the Museum to the regional greenway system. It will provide additional options for commuters, bikers, runners, walkers and art-lovers in the Triangle.
Construction of the Blue Loop will start September 2012 with an estimated completion date of spring 2013.
Gary Shell Cross-City Trail:
BCBSNC funding through GO NC will complete the final phase of the 15-mile trail that crosses Wilmington from Wade Park to the drawbridge at Wrightsville Beach.
Other additions to the trail include:
Mile markers along the entire 15-mile trail
Five bicycle fix-it stations along the trail
Annual Run, Ride and Roll 5k event that takes place on the trail
The information in this article was taken from a Press Release from Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina July 2012.
For more information on health insurance coverage in North Carolina, please visit our website at www.nchealthplans.com or call our toll free number 888-765-5400 and speak with one of our professional agents. Our agency provides coverage for health insurance in North Carolina through Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina (BCBSNC). You may qualify for a 15% healthy lifestyle discount if you are in excellent health. Call us for details.