Credit: richard winchell

Today people feel more comfortable behind the wheel of a car, a van, maybe even a large sport utility vehicle. For many people what they find comfortable is what they teach to their children. These patterns that are passed to the next generation have a negative impact on not only their health but also the health of our planet.

Consider the following example:

• In 1969, about 50% of all students walked or bicycled to school
• In 2008, about 15% of all students walked or bicycled to school

How do we account for the remaining 85%? The remaining 85% of children get to school in the following ways:

• 25% of all students take the school bus
• 60% of all students arrive at school in private automobiles

For most parents the safety of their children is their primary concern. They would rather guarantee the safety of their children by driving them to school instead of letting them walk or bicycle. When safety is the primate concern, the potential exercise their child could have and the amount of CO2 emissions they could reduce simply aren't deciding factors.

What may come as a surprise to many parents is that the Federal Highway Administration has a program designed to specifically address these safety concerns, it's called Safe Routes to Schools.

Credit: madmetal

According to the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), "This decline in walking and bicycling has had an adverse effect on traffic congestion and air quality around schools, as well as pedestrian and bicycle safety. In addition, a growing body of evidence has shown that children who lead sedentary lifestyles are at risk for a variety of health problems such as obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. Safety issues are a big concern for parents, who consistently cite traffic danger as a reason why their children are unable to bicycle or walk to school."

The Safe Routes to Schools or SRTS Program started in August 2005 is a Federal-Aid program of the U.S. Department of Transportation's Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). According to the FHWA, the goal of the program is to enable:

• To both enable and encourage children, including those with disabilities, to walk and bicycle to school
• To make bicycling and walking to school a safer and more appealing transportation alternative, thereby encouraging a healthy and active lifestyle from an early age
• To facilitate the planning, development, and implementation of projects and activities that will improve safety and reduce traffic, fuel consumption, and air pollution in the vicinity (approximately 2 miles) of primary and middle schools (Grades K-8).

Under the SRTS Program, each state bears responsibility for its own program. You can find more information on your local Safe Routes to Schools program at:

• http://www.saferoutesinfo.org/contacts/index.cfm

• http://www.saferoutesinfo.org/getting_started/

The Safe Routes to Schools program works. According to Laura Kelley, the new Project Coordinators for the Safe Routes to Schools program in Fairfax, California, she has "observed a significant increase in bikers/walkers in Fairfax, and a decrease in motor traffic, as the Safe Routes program has grown."

Think back to your childhood, can you remember a time when walking and bicycling was part of your everyday life? Isn't that something you'd like to share with your children? The Safe Routes to Schools program let's you do just that and best of all you are promoting the health of your children and the health of the planet with one simple action.

Labels: article, bicycle, bike, biking, earth, exercise, pollution, safe route, safe routes, safe routes to school, safety, srts, walk, walking

¶ 10:20 AM 0 Comments Links to this post

Credit: ninahale

According to a formal statement made on Wednesday by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) literally hundreds of US counties have air considered too dirty to breathe. In fact, breathing smoggy air can be hazardous because smog contains ozone, a pollutant that can harm your health.

The EPA announced new reduced tolerances on the acceptable amounts of ozone which is allowed in the air and still be considered safe to breathe. The original standard of allowable concentration of ozone, set a decade ago, allowed for no more then 80 parts per billion - the new standard is 75 parts per billion.

While EPA Administrator Stephen Johnson calls the new limits "the most stringent standards ever" and 49% of counties monitored will now be forced to make air quality improvements. This new standard is not in-line with the opinion of many health experts.

What is Ozone?

Ozone is a colorless gas composed of three atoms of oxygen. At or near ground level ozone is formed by pollutants emitted by cars, power plants, industrial boilers, refineries, chemical plants, and other sources that react chemically in the presence of sunlight.

What are the some of the dangers of Ozone exposure?

While most people with existing heart or lung conditions will already have been warned about the potential dangers of smog especially on hot and humid days, this common issue effects us all. According to Adam Brochert, MD, "All persons are at risk of being affected by smog. The most commonly cited effect of smog is on the lungs and breathing."

Common Symptoms of Heavy Smog Exposure

• Shortness of Breath
• Coughing
• Wheezing
• Painful Breathing

• Drive your vehicle less, try car-pooling or ride a bike
• Properly maintain your vehicle
• Limit vehicle engine idling
• Reduce your energy consumption
• Use products with the Energy Star label
• Use environmentally safe paints and cleaning products
• Have a fireplace? Use gas logs instead of burning wood
• Mulch or compost leaves and yard waste

If you have concerns about the air quality check your local Air Quality Index (AQI) as reported in your local newspaper or the EPA (http://www.epa.gov/). Once air quality becomes moderate you should avoid any prolonged strenuous outdoor activities.

If the Air Quality Index (AQI) is unsafe remember to:

• Try to limit the number of trips you take in your vehicle
• Reduce/Eliminate fireplace and wood stove usage
• Avoid using gas-powered lawn and garden equipment
• Avoid burning leaves, trash and other materials

What years ago seemed at worst a frightening concept, "air too dirty to breathe," has now become our harsh reality. We all need to take actions to reduce air pollution and keep the air cleaner.

Labels: air quality, aqi, article, energy consumption, energy saving tips for your home, environment, green, ozone, pollution, smog

¶ 5:46 PM 0 Comments Links to this post