The ecology of physical activity in Israel: active transportation, health and public policy in the age of sport industrialization

Abstract

The aim of this study is to examine the processes in the sport industry and consumer society in Israel, following similar global trends, which paradoxically contribute to the creation of an obesogenic culture and a sedentary lifestyle, while completely overshadowing popular participatory physical activity. This essay examines the case of active transportation in Israel (walking, cycling, roller-blading, skateboarding, etc) to widen the scope of discussion in popular sport to include the ecology of health, environmental injustice and governmental decision-making which produces an inactivity-enhancing environment instead of a sport promoting one. The ecological vision of health and sport is contrasted with television-dominated professional commercialized ‘sport’ and of sedentary lifestyle. Active Transportation is viewed as an environmental alternative to traditional sport for promoting active living and a healthy lifestyle in society at large, while bike advocacy is portrayed as an attempt to realize active transportation in Israel. The essay also surveys the controversy sparked by the issue of safety and bike helmets legislation, and questions the self-professed role of professional sport as inspiration for popular physical activity.