Introduction
Pollution in the air from motor
vehicles and excessive public transportation
HF0400 Environmental and
Natural Resource Money Availability, trying to find different methods of
funding, and ways to get around without polluting the air as much
Who is affected by the issue?
All of the citizens are
affected by air pollution, because we are the ones that breathe the air. People
that are in more industrialized and crowded cities, such as Minneapolis are
affected more, as they are around it more.
All of the citizens in highly
populated cities lose the most, like their health because they are the ones
breathing this air, and polluting their lungs. Also, by relying on public
transportation they are partaking in less exercise. These citizens lose their health
and fitness compared to the citizens living in the cities that don’t breath in
as much smoke and smog, and walk around their land more.
The public transportation
drivers (bus and taxi) and businesses gain money and revenue, as they know
people depend on them, and their services, because people take the easy way and
are lazy.
What are the consequences of this issue?
The consequences are poor
health, air pollution, and short quality of life.
The individuals’ health is
affected. Their families are affected by having their loved ones potentially
become sick from the pollution, and decreases expected life. The consequences for society are more
overall pollution, less air quality.
What is the economic impact of the issue?
The economic costs are
expensive to pay for all the gas used to transport people, maintenance repairs,
and miscellaneous costs. It would be more worthwhile to not offer so many
options, or reduce the number of buses and taxis available.
The economic benefits stem from
all of the revenue public transportation brings in. All of the business owners,
and employees of these companies benefit from this.
What is the social impact of the issue?
The social costs of this issue
are an opportunity to meet other people while traveling publically, so everyone
can benefit from this. Also, a recreational activity, and sight seeing
opportunity. The companies providing this service bear the cost since they are
the ones paying for repairs, and gas. Also, everyone is affected by the
pollution at its costly levels.
Some of the social benefits are
getting to be around new people, and in different parts of town. When you take
a public bus there are a lot of stops along your route which gives you a social
opportunity, and you get to learn from others, and see different parts of town
that you may of not known were there. Everyone can benefiting from this new
experience while getting to know and learn from others and their experiences.
What are the barriers?
The barriers are that there is
a need, and high demand for different ways to get around the city due to the
lack of cars people have, and high gas prices, so they use these methods to
save money. Taxis are used for people who are under the influence and need a
safe ride home. Also, in the cold weather people will not want to walk, or take
a bike from place to place, it does become a safety concern.
The barriers to addressing this
issue are people are stubborn, and won’t want to make a change, or try
something different. People are also lazy and even in nice weather they will
refuse to walk, or use a bike and will just expect to be picked up, and taken
care of from public transportation.
The people can be overcome by
seeing how bad it is to breathe the city, highly polluted air, and all of the
damage it does to their body. There are a lot of long term affects that people
are unaware of, so stressing those. Also, all of the damages their methods do
the environment, like ruining the eco system, and plants.
What are the resources?
The resources needed to address
this issue are evidence and statistics of breathing in poor and polluted air
stressing the health affects long term from this. The safety concerns from taking
public transportation at night, or by yourself when you do not know who is
around, or the kind of people on the bus. Also, the effects from the smoke and
smog that go into the air from big buses and trains.
The health affects can be found
by comparing the breathing capacity and quality of breaths from an individual
who lived in the city, and rode the bus for many years compared to someone who
lived out in the country, who hasn’t been exposed to as much pollution.
The safety issue can be found
by looking and observing the people around bus stops, and on buses late at
night.
What is the history of this issue?
The history of this issue in
the community is known to not travel alone at anytime, it is just unsafe. Also,
breathing in this type of air is comparable to cigarette smoke, and the poor
affects it has on your lungs, brain, and respiratory system.
The past efforts made were
trying to promote different methods of transportation that would help benefit
your health and be a source of exercising, like biking or walking.
The results of this were in the
warm weather people would attempt other ways, but once it was cold or poor
weather they resulted back to using the bus everyday, or driving themselves.
Allies & Opponents
The people who would support
this issue are the citizens concerned with preserving and maintaining the
environment. Also, healthy people who want to live and long healthy lifestyle,
and do not want to be breathing poor air. Fitness buffs would also like this
idea, as walking or biking is healthier then driving places, and a good source
of exercise.
The people who would oppose
this issue are the companies that own buses, taxis, cabs, or the people who
drive everywhere and do not like to exercise or go out into the cold or outside
in general.
To involve both the allies and
opponents regarding this issue would require a bit of compromise. Both sides
are looking to help out people, whether it’s providing transportation, or
promoting their own health and well being, so both sides share that. In order
for both sides to win they could both focus on promoting walking, or biking in
the warm weather times, and then come winter offer more public transportation,
so it will cut down on the pollution, and help promote a healthy lifestyle, yet
still as a back up offer public transportation.
Your Recommendation
I want policy-makers to vote in
favor of spending more money on advertising, and alternative transportation
methods that don’t pollute our air and environment like buses, trains, and
cabs. I want there to be more of a push for car polling, only if absolutely
necessary. I would like to see more promotion towards walking places, making it
accessible and a realistic idea, or even renting a bike to use would be
beneficial and less air pollution, while still being quick.
Sources:
http://www.healthypeople.gov/2020/topicsobjectives2020/objectiveslist.aspx?topicId=12
https://www.revisor.mn.gov/revisor/pages/search_status/status_detail.php?b=House&f=HF0400&ssn=0&y=2011
http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/eco-friendly
http://library.thinkquest.org/26026/Environmental_Problems/air_pollution.html
http://www.health.state.mn.us/divs/eh/air/
