Bikes, Plants and Good Infrastructure Matter

What is it like for a cyclist to commute in Boston? 

Are some routes healthier than others for a Belmontonian to make the trek? 

A recent study conducted by the Harvard School of Public Health shows that the kind of route a cyclist travels varies greatly in air quality.

The study compared bicycle travel routes - on-road routes (the painted-lane type that is on-road with cars) and bike paths (which may be next to busy roads but have a vegetative barrier). They tested common pollutants known to have negative impacts on health – black carbon and nitrogen dioxide. As you might expect, the bike paths measured about 33% lower in those pollutants.

What can we learn from this? Plants matter! Good infrastructure matters! Bushes and trees and other tall vegetation are playing a significant role in reducing pollutants on site. As we look around Belmont, we might imagine more filtering plant matter on our sidewalks to protect pedestrians and cyclists alike from the health-harming, polluting kind.