Monday, June 12, 2017
I-66 Trail: Air Quality Questions
A FABB member recently asked us why VDOT is building the I-66 parallel trail on the highway side of the sound wall and exposing the trail users to unhealthy air.
This is a great question and is one that should be asked of VDOT at the public meetings this week. One of the reasons FABB encourages members to attend public meetings is you never know who may identify a problem everyone else has overlooked. We also found that having a mix of attendees increases the likelihood that someone will have the personal background and experience to raise important issues related to their neighborhood.
Regarding air quality on the proposed trail, we’re told that scientific research has concluded that when air pollutants hit the sound walls they are forced upward and then are disbursed over a large areas. This is great for homes near the sound wall because the air quality on their side of the barrier measures 50% better/cleaner than the air on the traffic side of the wall. For anyone using the proposed trail, however, this means that pollutants are directly flowing over the cyclists and pedestrians and, in certain wind conditions, concentrating along the wall.
It would be good to know whether or not the Environmental Protection Agency and the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality have been consulted about the placement of the shared use path. And, if the answer is no, then why not?
Please continue to share your questions and insights with VDOT. If you can't attend the public meetings, then please send them an email at Transform66@VDOT.Virginia.gov.
Labels: air quality, i-66 outside the beltway, i-66 parallel trail, sound walls
Monday, February 13, 2017
Vote for FABB as Most Valuable Clean Air Partner
Please vote for FABB as a Most Valuable Clean Air Partner. Enter your email address under the FABB logo to vote. An email will be sent to ask you to confirm your vote.
About Clean Air Partners
Clean Air Partners is a public-private partnership that educates the greater metropolitan Washington-Baltimore region about the health risks associated with poor air quality and the impacts everyday actions have on the environment. For 20 years, Clean Air Partners has helped individuals and organizations take simple actions to reduce their impact on the environment and exposure to air pollution during unhealthy air quality days. Clean Air Partners’ Air Quality App is a free resource that provides air quality forecasts and real-time health notification. For more information and to download the app, visit www.cleanairpartners.net.
Labels: air quality, clean air partners
Monday, April 27, 2015
Air Quality Awareness Week April 27-May 3
From Clean Air Partners on Air Quality Awareness Week, ways to Reduce Your Contribution to Air Pollution:
- You can protect the air and your health through simple actions like using transit, carpooling, telecommuting, refueling your car after dusk, or using electric instead of gas-powered lawn tools. Check out Clean Air Partners’ informational guides for more tips on how you can make a big difference.
- Did you know that leaving your car at home just two days a week will reduce greenhouse gas emissions by an average of 1,600 pounds per year? Check out the Clean Air Partners Guide to Keeping Your Lungs Healthy.
- It’s even more important to be environmentally-friendly on poor air quality days. Sign up for AirAlerts to stay in the know about your air quality.
See also the new regional air quality infographic. Click on the image to see the full pdf:
Labels: air quality, air quality awareness week, clean air partners
Friday, May 30, 2014
Air quality information from Clean Air Partners
From our friends at Clean Air Partners, some helpful information for cyclists about air quality as summer approaches:
With summer around the corner Ozone levels will be rising in the region. Ozone is the most widespread air pollutant in Fairfax, created by the reaction of sunlight on emissions from vehicles and other air pollutant sources.
Bicycles are the ultimate clean-air (zero emissions and zero carbon dioxide) form of transportation, but the impact of ozone pollution on lung tissue can be serious. The effect excessive ozone and poor air quality exposure on cyclists’ athletic performance can last for several days to weeks. There is a bright side – and Clean Air Partners can help area cyclists protect their health during poor air quality days.
Regional air quality organization Clean Air Partners offers AirAlerts. AirAlerts are free, daily air quality notifications that inform recipients when the air quality forecast will be unhealthy and when it hits an unhealthy level (Code Orange or Red) in real-time. Users can get AirAlerts sent directly to their email and also use the Clean Air Partners Air Quality App for on-the-go information.
What does it mean for cyclists?
CODE GREEN: Get on your bike. Riding a bike on short trips will save gas and help protect the air.
CODE YELLOW: Bike Less. Air quality is acceptable but this could cause health concerns for sensitive groups (such as athletes and those who spend a lot of time outside). Travel on quieter routes with less traffic, away from tailpipe emissions.
CODE ORANGE: Limit biking and other physical outdoor activity. Carpool to work a few days, or even one day a week when the air is unhealthy to breathe. If possible wait to ride your bike at dusk.
CODE RED: Put away the bike. Take public transit or telecommute and limit strenuous outdoor activity when their air is unhealthy to breathe. Everyone is sensitive to this level of poor air quality and should avoid prolonged outdoor exertion.
CODE PURPLE: Don’t even think about it. Take public transit or telecommute to reduce your contribution to air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. Everyone, especially sensitive groups, should avoid any physical outdoor activities as pollution levels are very unhealthy.
Clean Air Partners would like to thank cyclists in Fairfax for contributing to an overall improvement in our community’s air quality and environment. Have fun and make sure you check out cleanairpratners.net to sign-up for AirAlerts!
Labels: air quality, clean air partners
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
Riding on a Code Orange day
Besides the sensitive groups, bicyclists are also at risk. According to this helpful Air Quality Index brochure, on Code Orange days, everyone should limit prolonged or heavy exertion. Bicycling qualifies a heavy exertion, and if it's done for several hours it's considered prolonged.
What can you do if you still rely on a bike for transportation? Ride slow. It may be hard for some of us to slow down, but it's highly recommended if you want to avoid damaging your lungs. It's definitely not a good idea to do extensive training. Code Red days are of course worse, and the recommendations include avoiding prolonged or heavy exertion. I do avoid riding on Code Red days. Fortunately July 7 was the only Code Red day in the region this year. See the MWCOG Air Quality Data page for more info.
See a map of today's air quality forecast for the U.S. Maybe it's time for an Idaho vacation.
Labels: air quality, code orange
