Post #244093 by Swanky on Thu, Jul 20, 2006 9:41 AM

On 2006-07-20 09:17, donhonyc wrote:
Swanky and Rev Griz.-You both seem to be pretty well versed in this area with some experience in the field. However, I don't think this issue can be dismissed so easily. When we talk about how 'nature' effects the environment I think we leave out one key component...HUMANS! We are part of nature and have an effect on the environment, more with the decisions we make versus stuff we 'emit from our person'...if you will. I can't argue with you point for point and have no EPA experience or environmental degree, but I know that things atmospherically speaking are different and seem off kilter. I trust my instincts enough to know that something isn't right and that this is a very real issue. In the last couple of years I have become a pretty active bicyclist. I ride my bike all over New York City, it's the best way to get around this town, provided you're not carrying a grand piano on your back and the weather is cooperating. The point being, is that I have become way more aware of pollution from cars and trucks since I have been riding. It's literally sickening. Sometimes I wonder if it's even healthy to ride a bike around here. When your breathing in all the fumes from cars while your heart rate is around 126 bpm that can't be all that good, kinda defeats the purpose. When you're in a car riding around in the city or on the highway, it's easy to not notice the pollution. On a bike it's a whole new ballgame. It's like jogging behind a smoke stack.

Again, this may be your perception today, but the truth is very different. If you could perhaps go back in time to 1975 and ride your bike on the same route, you'd know immediately that the air is better today. Vehicle emmissions are way down. There may be more on the road today, but the air coming out the pipes is cleaner by far so that the bottom line is cleaner air. And especially in a city where you have to have your vehicle inspected.

You may be unhappy with the air you are breathing today, but it is better than it was 10 years ago, and far and away better than it was 30 years ago.

We are just generally more and more aware of smaller and smaller quantities. Whether it's dirty water or cigarette smoke or emmissions, we are somewhat hyper-sensitive.

Now, it may be that countries like China and India are polluting like a mofo. They may be screwing things over in ways that make everything out of whack. I don't know. Trouble is, we can't do much about that.