Lyndon Thomas Insurance
HOW E-BIKES MAKE FITNESS FUN AND ACCESSIBLE FOR OLDER ADULTS Revive Your Love for Cycling
As we age, staying physically active whenever possible becomes increasingly important. However, many of us start to experience difficulties with our normal exercise routines as we approach our senior years. It’s not as easy to go for an extended run, lift weights, or participate in sports, so we have to start looking for less intense alternatives that still boost our physical fitness and keep us entertained. Electric bicycles, also known as e-bikes, are becoming a popular fitness trend for older Americans. When did you last take your bicycle from the garage or storage and ride around town? It’s probably been several years, but many of us have fond memories from our youth of biking to a friend’s house or a local hotspot. E-bikes are making it possible for us to relive those memories without risking injury or overexertion. The technology behind e-bikes has improved significantly in recent years. They’re now more user- friendly and accessible than ever before. Some models even have built-in GPS to ensure you never get lost, regardless of whether you’re riding through city streets, peaceful neighborhoods, or scenic nature trails. Many e-bikes are lightweight and easier to maneuver than traditional bikes. E-biking provides amazing physical and mental health benefits that are easily noticeable after only a few rides. You’ll see improvements in cardiovascular health, muscle strength, weight management, balance, and mood. Plus, it’s a low-impact activity, so you can explore to your heart’s content while also being kind to your joints. THE PHONE KEEPS RINGING
branch, in this case, the FCC and CMS, regulates based on those laws, and the Courts then adjudicate the constitutionality of the laws. In this case, “written,” as added by the FCC, changed the definition of “prior express consent” significantly enough to be struck down. I’ve read the 26-page ruling of the Eleventh Circuit Court. The Court held that in adding “written” to its regulation, “The FCC … exceeded its statutory authority in redefining ‘prior express consent’ to include the additional ‘prior express consent’ restrictions.” Okay, I get it. The finely grained definitions of words carry enormous real-world weight. Congress will have to get motivated to protect consumers. Call or write your House and Senate representatives and tell them your experience of being harassed by countless phone calls. Prior express consent, as permitted by law, is included every time we check the consent box on a form. Perhaps read the fine print a little more carefully. Sadly, in the meantime, maybe the best line of defense is just don’t answer your phone. Next month, I’ll discuss defensive measures we as consumers can take. While e-bikes present opportunities to improve your physical fitness while limiting your risk for injury, they’re also a great way to meet like-minded people in your community. You can find e-biking clubs and events nationwide, and many host group rides throughout the year. It’s a great way to meet new friends! An e-bike can boost your overall well-being, but follow all safety measures, such as wearing a helmet and obeying road signs. Even though e-bikes are safer and more efficient than ever, you can still get injured while riding, especially if you are going too fast for road conditions — some e-bikes can get up to speeds of almost 30 mph. What are you waiting for? Get riding! Your body and mind will thank you!
Telemarketing, the marketing of products and services over the telephone, has been around for a long time. Telemarketing became far more obnoxious when computers started robocalling. A few years ago, early forms of artificial intelligence started talking to you when you answered. Weird. Nowadays, on the occasion I answer a call, my first question is, “Am I talking to a real human being?” It’s creepy when the AI chuckles and tries to pass itself off as human. The April 2024 edition of Lyn’s Ledger carried news that, based on a recent regulation issued by the Federal Communications Commission, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (Medicare) had published in its 2025 Final Rule including heightened marketing rules that established a “[o]ne-to-one consent structure where Third-Party Marketing Organizations must obtain prior express written consent through a clear and conspicuous disclosure for each Third-Party Marketing Organization that will be receiving the beneficiary’s [your] data.”
In other words, no company or marketing firm could ever call you unless you first gave them written (clicking on a clearly defined webpage link included) permission. “Each” meant that your personal information could not be given to anyone else unless you, again, gave prior express written consent. It is a very draconian definition, essentially killing telemarketing, but given the level of telephone harassment, many consumers welcome it. This rule was to go into effect on Jan. 27, 2025, giving Medicare beneficiaries some much-appreciated peace and quiet. However, this FCC rule was struck down by the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals on Jan. 24, based on the definition of “prior express consent.” “Prior express consent” is statutory law (Telephone Consumer Protection Act, 2012), passed by Congress and signed into law, and is the basis for Do Not Call lists and the like. “Prior express written consent” is 2023 FCC and CMS Agency added language. Our system of governance is designed so that Congress writes the laws, the Administrative
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