Currently the human race is coming to terms with one of the most monumental problems of its own creation : air and water pollution. The poisoning of the very air we breathe and the water that we drink has become too prolific to ignore any longer. One culprit ? Automobiles. The more smoke we expel from the exhaust pipe, the more we exhaust our environment and poison the air and water that allows us to exist. But what can we do to reduce the amount of pollution we produce ? It’s not like we can just stop driving ,right ? Wouldn’t it have an adverse effect on our productivity or make it harder to get to work ? It’s not like it would make a difference anyway, right ? Well not necessarily, currently there are entire countries banning automobiles …show more content…
It is really just simple math: life minus cars equals to less pollution because cars emit toxic greenhouse gases. Even one to three days without cars can significantly lower the amount of air pollution we have to endure. This is exemplified in Robert Duffer’s article “Paris Bans Driving Due to Smog”, driving was partially banned in Paris by the French government, with even numbered plates staying home on Monday and odd-numbered plates on Tuesday. “The smog cleared up enough on Monday...to rescind the ban on..Tuesday.” (Duffer 3). This just goes to show that curbing our automobile addiction can quickly make a big difference. According to Elisabeth Rosenthal’s work “In German Suburb, Life Goes On Without Cars”, “Passenger cars are responsible for 12 percent of greenhouse gas emission in Europe...and up to 50 percent in some car intensive areas in the United States.” This means that cars account for a significant percentage of pollution around the world, and thus, reasonably, reducing car usage would reduce …show more content…
Pertaining to the “day without cars” tradition the city of Bogota, Columbia : “It has seen the construction of 118 bicycle paths, the most of any Latin American city…” (Belsky, 3) A single day without cars has encouraged not only, new businesses to spring up and infrastructure to be improved but also physical activity to become more common in countries that implement such a tradition. In my own experience, a less sedentary lifestyle means lower risk of heart disease, obesity, and other weight and activity related ailments. In addition car usage reduction seems to lessen stress, a claim that mother of two, Heidrun Walter testifies to. “ ‘When I had a car I was always tense. I’m much happier this way.’...” (Rosenthal 1). This is a benefit that cannot be ignored as higher stress levels can take a toll on your mental health. Last but certainly not least, is the fact that less smog will discourage the pollution-induced respiratory illnesses permeating the developed world. Polluted air is not meant to be breathed and less of it is better for the whole of the
With a declining or no use of cars can result in the reduction of pollution quite tremendously. They can by reducing the greenhouse effect. As the author reports in the article, “In German Suburb Life Goes On Without Care” by Elisabeth Rosenthal, “Passenger cars are responsible for 12 percent of greenhouse gas emissions in Europe… and up to 50 percent in some car-intensive areas in the United States.” Therefore, with cars being a leading factor of greenhouse gas emissions, reducing their usage would have a positive effect on the environment. After days of near-record pollution,
Some of the advantages at not using cars in a some moments is the reduction of greenhouse effect and smog. This can reduce global warming and pollution as well maintaining the Earth at a stable temperature and clearing skies from the smog. The article ”In German Suburb, Life Goes On Without Cars” by Elisabeth Rosenthal says “Passenger cars are responsible for 12 percent of greenhouse gas emissions in Europe . . . and up to 50 percent in some car-intensive areas in the United States.” this means that the usage of cars made up a little percentage in Europe,
This pollution increases health risks by introducing people to harmful toxins released by cars, specifically in the asthmatic population. Hence, one can see the problems associated with traffic congestion and pollution. There are several ways to counteract the problem of traffic congestion and pollution. Firstly, the most practical solution to New York City’s congestion problem is to decrease the number of cars on the road. One plausible way would be to promote and offer alternative methods of transportation such as buses, subways, and taxis. If people used more public transportation there would be fewer cars on the road, less congestion, and less traffic pollution. Another alternative would be to increase toll prices. By increasing tolls on bridges and tunnels, people would be much less inclined to drive to the city and as a result there would be less traffic congestion and pollution. Gridlock is a major cause of traffic problems in Manhattan. If we were to implement more severe fines for blocking intersections, people would not try to “beat the light,” in effect decreasing overall congestion. A third approach to try and resolve this issue would be to change some one-way streets to two-way streets. Doing this would allow easier access to destinations and would eliminate indirect route taking. As a result, overall pollution would decrease. These are some of the methods that would be viable in decreasing
First, cars pollute the environment. In 2012 the EPA reported that a whopping 28% of emissions came from transportation. As it says in the article “Running off the Road”, by Grover Kingsley, “With their largely petroleum based fuel, cars constantly spew carbon monoxide into the air.” We are responsible for the
Cars and truck account for 20% of all U.S. global warming emissions, where more than 24 pounds per gallon of carbon dioxide and other global warming gases come right out of the car’s tailpipe (“Union of Concerned scientists”). This frightening statistic is part of the reason why the federal government has put in place many policies and incentives such as the Clean Air Act, The National Program for greenhouse gas emissions, Catalytic Converter Federal Laws, and incentives of $12,000 in California to get people to upgrade to more fuel-efficient cars. With such programs and incentives put in places, it is also important that car companies such as Toyota and Ford also take action to further cut pollution rates. They have done so by
Once families could afford two cars because of the lowering price, many women could now drive. African Americans could now drive as well; putting them at the wheel gave them new respect. The car also enables people to make a decision to go somewhere and leave immediately, no more waiting for a bus or a train. Cars gave Americans the freedom to move to other cities and start new lives. Although some people say that cars are dangerous because of accidents, there are many accidents involving trains, planes, and buses as well. Some may continue with “Cars are polluting the environment,” But other forms of transportation pollute just as much as
Air pollution is air with a lot of chemicals in it that makes it hard for us to breathe. We breathe 2 gallons of air per minute which makes it 3400 gallons of air each day. Above 50,000 people die in America due to air pollution. 80% of our lung disease are caused by the pollution of the cars. Indoor air pollution is 2-5 times worse than the air outdoors. Ways to reduce air pollution is by wearing mask continually to save ourselves from air pollution. Electric vehicles produce less air pollution because they don’t produce gas. Another way to reduce it is that ensure new vehicles had to be fitted with catalytic converters. With these changes it also reduces ozone pollution. Ozone air irritant your eyes, nose and throat. By making these changes it would be easier for everybody to breathe.
In recent years, major cities across the globe have developed innovative new methods of transportation that could revolutionize the way humans travel and ultimately replace automobiles throughout the industrialized world. Many supporters of this movement believe restricting the use of cars will have a positive impact on society as a whole. Some people believe that taking away automobiles is preposterous given the gravity of which citizens depend on them; although true, replacing cars would have significant benefits throughout society that would outweigh this consequence and ultimately create a new global social order. Restricting cars in cities and encouraging alternate methods of transportation would reduce humans’ carbon footprint, make cities
Cars are the best way of transportations that people have today. However, the excess use of them causes global warming and extra amount of carbon dioxide due to the burning of fossil fuels. “Passenger cars are responsible for 12 percent of greenhouse gas emissions in Europe… and up to 50 percent… in the United States” states the passage “In German Suburb, Life Goes on Without Cars” by Elisabeth Rosenthal. Cars could be replaced by bicycles, or the roads replaced by bigger sidewalks where people could walk to their destination. This will benefit the country’s health and the people’s too.
Some families have two or three cars, or even one person has two or three cars. The air is polluted because of too much gasoline that people use every day. In order to protect our environment, people should use public transportation instead of using cars. This way not only decrease a pollution but also it can decrease traffic jams in the high
Many Americans live in suburbs or rural areas, and those places require cars for daily life. They have to drive everywhere because everything is too far away, and public transportation is not common in those areas. I live in the city, so everything is always close by. I don’t need a car to get around either, because I can always take a train or a bus. I also don’t live in a big house, so my gas heating, water, and electricity use is not too high. Compared to a third world country, my footprint may be a bit higher. I have access to running water, electricity, and gas, while many people in third world countries don’t. I’m much more fortunate than some people since I live in a first world country, but we have to remember that certain luxuries, particularly those involving the environment, can be detrimental to our futures later
Automobiles play a major role in today's society. Almost every American owns at least one motorized transportation vehicle. Some say they make our lives better by reaching places faster than before. Others say they are a harmful to the environment. Have they made our society better or worse? They may be fast, but do we as humans want our environment to suffer because of time. Face it, cars pollute. And they release destructive chemicals into the air. Air pollution can threaten the health of many subjects in the environment including human beings.
Pollution has become a heated issue in recent years. The destruction of the environment along with serious health problems are the eventual effects. The extensive use and availability of automobiles, tremendous amounts of production in the booming economy and the constant increase in demand for energy, can be held responsible.
Being lazy is a great thing because so much time is saved. Time may be saved, but in exchange, the environment gets destroyed instead. Driving a car to work may be faster, but it also destroys the environment so much faster. Biking to the store serves the same purpose and it saves the environment greatly. Cars are a huge contributor to global warming. Cars and trucks combined are responsible for one-fifth of all US emissions. They release about 24 pounds of carbon dioxide and other global warming gases for every gallon of gas used (Union of Concerned Scientists). About five pounds of those gases come from production, extraction, and delivery of gasoline. More than 19 pounds are released per gallon from a car's tailpipe (Union of Concerned Scientists). 1.2 billion cubic yards of polluted air is from manufacture. Painting and coating cars produces 40 million pounds of air releases and 24 million pounds of hazardous waste a year. A car's lifetime produces 1.3 billion cubic yard of polluted air and scatters 40 pounds of worn tire particles, brake debris, and worn road surface into the atmosphere (Bike to Work Day). Pollutants released a year add up to over 12,140 lbs for cars and 17,000 for light trucks. Some of those pollutants are carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons, and nitrogen oxides (Bike to Work Day). By choosing to bike or walk instead of drive, the amount of gases and waste contributing to global warming, drops drastically. Choosing to drive instead of taking a greener form of transportation is a great threat to the environment.
Automobiles are a major producer of greenhouse gas. One gallon of fuel burned puts five pounds of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. Let’s say that an average car gets 25 miles to the gallon, and that car has a ten gallon tank. Every time a car gets filled up with gas, another fifty pounds of carbon dioxide have been put back into the atmosphere, and that is just one car. The automobile industry is very important to the world economy, so I am not saying that we should stop making cars, but there are other solutions. The recent trend of hybrid electric cars that get up to fifty miles to the gallon are becoming more popular. Also public transportation is very important. City dwellers that live downtown, do not need to drive their cars to work. Every major city has a form of public transportation that can get anyone around the city, and for that gallon of gas a bus burns the same five pounds reaches the atmosphere, but instead of one