BIKE: Ozone Action and our bike commuter lungs

[Lane S. Wimberley]

[Note: combining messages here; see note on Lance Armstrong
celebration below.]

Stephen Wechsler writes:
> I once read some very careful studies (by a Danish researcher, I think) 
> showing that air pollution is WORSE FOR MOTORISTS in their cars than 
> for cyclists--- even when correcting for the deeper breathing.  They 
> used some device in the throat to measure actual intake.  I don't 
> recall the details about what size of particle etc.  But it may make 
> you (er) breathe easier to know that you're not any worse off for 
> cycling.  Actually much better off, since the exercise strengthens the 
> heart.

Hi Steve.  I could see where this might be true for certain
pollutants.  When one is in a car in traffic, the air flowing into
one's car is (relatively) heavily polluted because of the long ribbon
of cars ahead.

But, ground-level ozone is a product of somewhat complex
circumstances, and I think it involves interactions of certain
car-related pollutants and trees and plants.  So, ozone tends to
accumulate not in traffic streams, necessarily, but all over town.  I
imagine ozone might be worst around gas-powered lawn equipment.

Pollution in general is bad, of course, in various ways and for
various reasons, but ozone can cause immediate breathing difficulties
and possibly long-term or permanent lung damage.  Nasty stuff.

I've been wondering whether some of the allegedly heat-related
problems that high school football players have been having might be
related to ozone.  It's been hot, of course, but not *that* hot.

Re: Lance Armstrong celebration -- I'd like to go to this (I think),
and it's conveniently on my way home.  But, I'm a little concerned
about having my bike with commuter bag, and my shoulder-slung laptop
with me the whole time in a crowd of 100,000.  I know there will be
bike parking at Waterloo park, but I'm not willing to leave all my
personal/work gear over there.

Is anyone else planning to attend?  If so, I was wondering if there
were any ideas about what to do in this case.  Maybe we could meet up
somewhere; at least I wouldn't be alone with bike and bags.

[It'd be cool if they let cyclists ride in the parade with Lance up
Congress; does anyone know if there are plans to do this?]

Oh, and on the question, will Shrub be there?  Well, it *is* Friday,
the 13th, but then I think Bushy boy might have more "important"
issues to attend to.  (Well, we can hope...)

-Lane

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