Pollution reduction needs bikable walkable cities

The problem of driving will worsen because Vehicle Miles Traveled are increasing. A roundtrip to the moon (RTM) is 477,736 miles. In 2000 in San Mateo County we did 35 RTM. In 2015 we will average 39.

Molly O'Meara Sheehan writes in Volume XXXVIII, Number 1 2001, of the Department of Public Information that: Studies in Europe show that pollution from motor vehicles can actually kill more people than do vehicle accidents. In Austria, France and Switzerland, the number of premature deaths brought about by particulate emissions from vehicles is about twice that from traffic accidents, according to a report in the Lancet medical journal.

Reducing particle emissions can improve life expectancy and deaths. But note that the WHO recommends controlling 1.8u particles instead of the 2.5u we control in San Mateo and at 50 particle density not 70. Particle pollution is toxic for us everywhere from schools to trails.

However ABAG and MTC say in Challenges and Choices For a Bay Area on the Move, that, nothing we do, can reduce levels of PM 10 pollution by 2035 ( page 13) After all the offsets are calculated in, we will be no where near the targets. The the offsets are all related to vehicle efficiency like hybrids and electric cars, and fuel types like hydrogen and ethanol, and pricing like toll lanes.

Thus the only real way is to severely reduce cars. Freight to rail can accomplish some of this. Walkable cities can ensure that only the fewest trips on the transportation pyramid should be possible by car.