Yerzhan

“The worst effects of breathing polluted air are experienced where it is densest: in traffic. Spending time on and near highways, freeways, and other busy roads is terrible for your health. How near is a question that is still being studied, but researchers believe that the effects are worst within either a fifth or a third of a mile. People in cars or buses are exposed to considerably more air pollution, perhaps because of, rather than despite, being in a closed space. People walking and bicycling on or next to roads breathe more air, but inhale somewhat less pollution; and cyclists have been found to have even less risk if they are on paths that are separated from the road.”
― Elly Blue, Bikenomics: How Bicycling Can Save The Economy

“The best scenario of all when it comes to air pollution has nothing to do with tailpipe filters or hybrid, electric, or zero emissions car technology. The way to reduce pollution is to reduce driving, plain and simple.”
― Elly Blue, Bikenomics: How Bicycling Can Save The Economy

“When it comes to bicycling, short trips, close to home, are the lowest-hanging fruit. A quarter of all our daily travel is done within a mile of our homes. We do most of these short hops by car; less car-centric standards for neighborhood roads could easily make bicycling or walking a more attractive option. This need becomes especially clear when you know that these short local trips result in 60% of the pollution caused by our cars.”
― Elly Blue, Bikenomics: How Bicycling Can Save The Economy

“We are, most of us, paying far more for transportation than we can truly afford. And more and more of us are starting to realize it.”
― Elly Blue, Bikenomics: How Bicycling Can Save The Economy