I use public transportation to get to and from the places I need to go. Not by choice, however, it's because I don't currently own a car. Back in Los Angeles traffic is pretty much always a nightmare, regardless of the time of day. I'm really not looking forward to spending a portion of my life sitting in traffic, which is why I also prefer to walk. Here is San Francisco it's pretty easy to get in a good cardio workout just by walking around the city to run a few errands (all those hills). I used to think it was the healthiest way to get around, aside from bicycling, however walking around in the city also exposes you to a number of chemicals and pollutants that are lingering in the air. Every time I step outside my building the first thing I usually smell is cigarette smoke. I always try and hold my breathe when I pass by someone who is smoking, but unfortunately, I always get a whiff of the smoke, and it makes me nauseous thinking about the harm it's doing to my lungs.
It's important for communities to have transportation methods available that accommodate all people, regardless of disability, income, or age. More and more cities have started to implement bike lanes to their streets, this is an important addition to streets because people who bike have a safe way to get around the city without the fear of riding on the same lanes as cars and other much larger vehicles. Several cities including Los Angeles, have also started to incorporate multi-directional crosswalks, allowing pedestrians to cross the street in any direction, greatly minimizing the chances of pedestrians being hit by a vehicle.
While all these innovative designs to make transportation easier and safer for pedestrians and bicyclists exist, there are still many people who rely on vehicles as their main source of transportation. While getting around in a vehicle is much faster and easier, they also contribute a great deal to our city's air pollution. According to the EPA, motor vehicles cause a total of 75% of carbon monoxide pollution in the United States. Newer hybrid vehicles produce fewer emissions, however, not everyone can afford to purchase a new vehicle. All of the vehicles out on the road every day contribute to the air pollution in our communities.
Hi Syria,
ReplyDeleteThe health risks of air pollution are extremely serious. Poor air quality increases respiratory ailments like asthma and bronchitis, heightens the risk of life-threatening conditions like cancer, and burdens our health care system with substantial medical costs. As you cited from EPA that vehicles cause 75% of carbon monoxide pollution in the United States. To reduce transport-related air pollution, including providing the bike lanes and sidewalks to the cities streets, we need a strong federal and state policy to replace old vehicles with fuel-efficient vehicles such as electric cars and trucks. I really enjoyed reading your topic and thank you for sharing your experience and thought!
Sayed