Thursday, April 8, 2010

Sheriff Joe Arpaio To Inmates: You Want TV? Start Peddling! (Phoenix News)



Sheriff Joe Arpaio was concerned about the waistlines of some of the inmates at his Arizona jail, so he had an idea. The sheriff brought in an electricity-generating stationary bike and hooked it up to a television set which is powered by the peddler–and if the prisoners want to watch TV, they have to exercise. Arpaio calls his system “Pedal Vision,” and he thinks it may be just the thing to get his inmates in shape.

Produces Power, Burns Calories

According to the FOX affiliate in Phoenix, Sheriff Arpaio’s “Pedal Vision” stationary bike produces 12 volts of electricity when pedaled, enough to power a 19 inch television in the jail’s viewing center. A noise encourages the exercising inmates when their speed has slowed below what’s needed to power the TV. One hour of pedaling equals one hour of television viewing for the inmates.

Right now, the “Pedal Vision” is only available to the female inmate population, but that could all change if the program is a success, so says Arpaio:

"I started with the females because they seemed more receptive to the idea. The only exercise the females get right now is speed-walking around the tents yard and few are doing that. This gives them a reason to get moving and a way to burn up to 500 calories an hour. They won’t be charged a monthly gym fee but they will have to sign a contract."

Click here for tips on surviving Arpaio’s jail system.

Click here for the first blog I wrote from Arpaio's Madison Street jail.

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Shaun P. Attwood

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