M3.5 Transportation
BLOG about your personal experience regarding transportation and its implications for your health and the health of your communities and air quality.
Growing up in Los Angeles, a bit removed from public transportation I found that having a car was a necessity. There wasn't an "easy way" of getting from downtown LA to Santa Monica or the valley without a vehicle, so I have always had a car or was driven by parents and friends. I feel like when I drive my own vehicle throughout the city I pay little attention to the type of emissions my car is contributing to the environment. I drive a relatively newer vehicle and I make sure it is up to date with smog etc. My car doesn't have dark looking exhaust and doesn't seem to pollute as much as others so I think I have this false sense of " Im doing my part for the environment." Growing up in Los Angeles, in smaller cities, I also walked a lot. I would walk to friends houses or to school so that was always a viable option. When I would walk around my community I felt fine. I did not feel like my health way being impacted in any particularly negative way. I think this is important to note, because I lived more West than downtown Los Angeles. I lived outside of the haze of smog that covers most of LA. While everything was a bit brighter in my neighborhood, I know I was never too far from the air and water pollutants. I remember watching the big metro buses pulling away from the bus stops and leaving a curtain of smog behind. That was one of the reasons why I didn't want to use public transportation.
I am an asthmatic, have been my whole life. I think growing up in a particularly polluted area had both positive and negative effects on my health and wellbeing. I am more sensitive to air changes now, which I sometimes think is a negative attribute of having asthma. But as I get older I feel like having this tap on how my body is responding to the environment is actually more helpful than harmful.
Growing up in Los Angeles, a bit removed from public transportation I found that having a car was a necessity. There wasn't an "easy way" of getting from downtown LA to Santa Monica or the valley without a vehicle, so I have always had a car or was driven by parents and friends. I feel like when I drive my own vehicle throughout the city I pay little attention to the type of emissions my car is contributing to the environment. I drive a relatively newer vehicle and I make sure it is up to date with smog etc. My car doesn't have dark looking exhaust and doesn't seem to pollute as much as others so I think I have this false sense of " Im doing my part for the environment." Growing up in Los Angeles, in smaller cities, I also walked a lot. I would walk to friends houses or to school so that was always a viable option. When I would walk around my community I felt fine. I did not feel like my health way being impacted in any particularly negative way. I think this is important to note, because I lived more West than downtown Los Angeles. I lived outside of the haze of smog that covers most of LA. While everything was a bit brighter in my neighborhood, I know I was never too far from the air and water pollutants. I remember watching the big metro buses pulling away from the bus stops and leaving a curtain of smog behind. That was one of the reasons why I didn't want to use public transportation.
I am an asthmatic, have been my whole life. I think growing up in a particularly polluted area had both positive and negative effects on my health and wellbeing. I am more sensitive to air changes now, which I sometimes think is a negative attribute of having asthma. But as I get older I feel like having this tap on how my body is responding to the environment is actually more helpful than harmful.
I totally agree with that (not completely) false sense of "I am doing my own small part" to help the environment. The whole point of getting our cars checked is to make sure they aren't contributing as much to the current state of our air. I think that we get so used to our situation and our environment that we feel "fine" with their present conditions. Sometimes, I had no choice but to take public transportation in the Philippines, which meant I had to expose myself to the many pollutants. In many places, people don't have a choice in how they get around or where they stay. It may make the situation difficult, but all the more there is a call to address these issues. Developing cleaner modes of transportation and addressing traffic concerns can become great steps towards cleaner air.
ReplyDeleteHaving been to Los Angeles many many times, I can not even imagine attempting to take a bus ti get around so I totally understand that. However, even San Jose is pretty big and has a well developed bus system but I haven't ever taken it. Part of the reason for that is also because I don't like all the smog they leave behind. I feel somewhat good about not getting on the buses yet, I have an older car that is not the best either. It has always passed the smog but I know its not the best for the environment.
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