Groups of health care workers have thrown their support behind a move to push Government to build more sidewalks in the eastern parishes.

In a letter to the Editor of The Royal Gazette which ran on Friday, the Diabetes, Occupational Therapy, and Physical Therapy Associations sign off on the call for sidewalks as a health issue.

They are joined by the Road Safety Committee of the Bermuda Medical Society.

The letter highlighted the lack of sidewalks and the dangers of walking "as drivers show no consideration for pedestrians and frequently disregard the speed limit''.

With physicians and other health professionals urging people to get out and walk regularly, "few people are able to comply with this medical advice'' because of the danger of walking on Bermuda's narrow roads.

Because traffic problems are unlikely to go away, the letter continues, broad, safe and accessible sidewalks would reduce stress and the number of dangerous roadside incidents.

Author of the letter Jasen Moniz, president of the Dietitians Association, said she understood the process of putting adequate sidewalks on North, Middle and South Roads east of Paget would take time.

But she said with heart disease, cancer, diabetes, and stroke taking a heavy toll on the Bermudian population, something must be done to encourage locals to get out and walk.

Walking, she said is ideal because it produces less wear and tear on the body compared to running and is cheaper than going to a gym.

Her group's concerns lie in the relative proximity of passing vehicles and in the safety of women and children forced onto the roads by the unsafe Railway Trail.

She said many people avoid the trail particularly in the hours approaching dusk because of incidents of muggings and assaults, adding: "People would like to be in the public view at that time.''