Air Quality
Streetsblog Basics
MIT Study: Vehicle Emissions Cause 58,000 Premature Deaths Yearly in U.S.
Just when you thought it was safe to breathe, a pair of studies underscore the grave threat that air pollution poses to public health.
October 22, 2013
Report: Pollution From U.S. Parking Spaces Costs Up to $20 Billion Per Year
Parking spaces keep getting more costly.
February 23, 2012
Polluters Rejoice! Obama Caves on Proposed Ozone Standard
This morning, President Obama announced that he would direct the EPA to back off of new ozone standards that would have saved an estimated 12,000 lives [PDF]. They’ll revisit it in 2013.
September 2, 2011
Pedestrians, Including Bill Clinton, Breathe Easier in the New Times Square
A new study commissioned by the city finds that air quality in Times Square has notably improved since the 2009 installation of pedestrian plazas on Broadway.
April 13, 2011
The Problems With Ports, or Why We Need a National Freight Act
Maybe you commute by train, or maybe you've switched from driving to biking. But your stuff is still traveling the country by diesel truck.
August 6, 2010
City Council Moves on Environmental Health, But What About Tailpipes?
The New York City Council moved on two big pieces of environmental legislation last Wednesday. One bill was introduced which would require landlords to participate in a major public experiment to reduce asthma rates. A second, which passed the full council, aims to keep dangerous chemicals out of city parks. Both could be important steps forward for preserving our environment and promoting public health, but you just have to ask, what happened to the internal combustion engine?
May 18, 2010
Study: Fewer Cars on the Street = Healthier Kids
Fewer cars means more walking and healthier kids. Image: jeweledlion via Flickr. Could reducing traffic near children’s homes help America combat its obesity epidemic? A new study conducted by UC Berkeley professor Michael Jerrett strongly suggests the answer is yes. Obesity rates are steadily increasing — more than one-fifth of New Yorkers are now obese, … Continued
February 5, 2010
NYC Health Department: Traffic Is Poisoning Our Air
In a first of its kind report for the city, the Department of Health has issued a wake-up call for New Yorkers of all stripes: Car and truck traffic is killing us, in more ways than one.
December 16, 2009
Council Targets Roaming Tour Buses, Old School Buses
The City Council will hold hearings on new rules for tour bus operators next Monday.
September 17, 2009
Know Your Road Lobbyists: The American Highway Users Alliance
For a 77-year-old nonprofit group with substantial Washington clout, the American Highway Users Alliance keeps a pretty low profile.
July 20, 2009