Hirohsima

Sorry for the dup post, I did not know how to do a poll.

So, do you ride on spare the air days? The AQI where I live is going to be 154 which is unhealthy for anyone, not just elderly, sick, and children.

Do you still ride?
What effects does breathing in ozone have?

I am curious. I normally just ride but am curious what the rest of you do.

mikeybikes

I don't worry about it at all.

RE: Effects
Ozone being a strong oxidizer can be harmful to the upper respiratory tract and lungs.

If you find the higher concentrations of Ozone make it hard to breathe or irritate your eyes and/or lungs, its probably not the best idea to ride out in it.

igknighted

I've never heard of this, so I'm going to assume I'm OK here?

jefferee

I generally ride, but not more than the minimum distance required.

My shortest route is mostly shaded rail-to-trail MUP, which means better air and cooler temperatures than the longer road route I typically use.

Of course, last year's highest measured AQI here was 54, so I'm generally avoiding the muggy summer weather, not smog.

DX Rider

I'm actually more concerned about the tailpipe emissions of the cars around me when I'm biking in traffic. I hate being stuck in a line of cars and there is a car tailpipe right in front of me belching out carbon monoxide. I try to stay to the opposite side of the car from the tailpipe, that way it's not coming straight towards me.

AQI = Air Quality Index. I've also heard of it referred to as a smog index or as smog alerts as well.

If poor air qualiy is not an issue that's prevalent to your area, than the the weather folks will probably breeze right past it or not mention it at all, but if you go to a decent weather website it should be listed with the other local weather info.

Being a native of the Northeastern US, I had never heard of it until I moved to California. The grossest thing about living in So. Cal. in the winter is the mornings that have fog and poor air quality. The fog is yellow and when you breath in the air tastes like diesel fuel. Blecchhh.

Kevrob

In other parts of the country, don't STA days ≈ "Ozone Action Days?"

Kevin

tarwheel 

I still bike commute if the forecast is for Code Orange, which is unhealthy for sensitive groups. However, I generally don't bike if the forecast is Code Red or worse.

I have ridden on Code Red days and don't advise it. I got a sore throat riding on those days, and you could be risking more serious illness. If the main air pollution problem is ozone, riding in the mornings is not a problem because ozone doesn't develop until afternoon. However, if the problem is particle pollution, levels can be a problem throughout the day or night.

The worst day I have ridden was when the air was Code Red from particle pollution coming from a large forest fire. I rode to work against my better judgment but caught a ride home with a coworker who lives in my neighborhood. High particle levels can be very hazardous to your health, even causing heart attacks in some cases.

If you are unfamiliar with air quality action days, see this link to EPA web site:

https://www.airnow.gov/

drjava

Wow, 154 AQI. That is terrible. Must be all the crap blowing at you from the Bay Area. We're in the low 50's to high 40's.

START_OFF_TOPIC_RANT: Either that or its all the off gassing from the inept politicians there. Budget? What Budget? I say fire 'em all! No incumbents!END_OFF_TOPIC_RANT

Here is a chart of AQI

TempeRider

Used to be called Ozone alert days here - but it is now generic - any kind of pollution.


in general the "Pollution Advisory" days here don't matter much to me. Usually it means we (Phoenix) is gunna get busted for being in the desert - that is, it will be windy, kick up the dust from the desert, and cause us to "fail" the fed's particulate pollution standards.

However, there are times when I drive because it's just too dang hot!!!

savethekudzu

tarwheel:

Yeah, I remember those fires; we got just a light haze here, but it was really unpleasant. Makes me glad not to live somewhere that has a "fire season"!

JeffS

As I've said before, driving because the air quality is bad makes absolutely no sense to me. I doubt we have SoCal bad air, but it's fairly bad nonetheless. I ride through everything, including the forest fire above.

wunderkind

What is Spare the Air Days?
Anyways, if the weather is too hot and humid which often leads to haze and bad AQI, I will just leave my bike home and either drive in or transit in.

Pscyclepath

They're called "Ozone Action Days" here, and I'm a lot more likely to leave the pickup at home or wherever and ride on those days... to make at least one less car out there adding to the emissions. My usual commute route either misses or allows me to bypass most of the congested areas around town.

jdmitch

There should have been a 5th option... "Don't bother to check"... so, I picked #4.

Ka_Jun

Go slow, I've just recently been diagnosed w/ exercise/pollution induced asthma. I still do it, but I take it easy.

bugly64

I'll quit commuting when they pry my cold dead fingers off my flightdecks.

bhop

I've never heard that phrase..

zephyr

In the southern part of Orange County where I live and commute, the air quality is usually in the good to moderate range. The smog is occasionally bad if the air currents push the junk south from the LA basin, but the worst of the smog typically blows north and east of where I am. The prevailing onshore breeze off the Pacific is normally the saving grace from bad air pollution in my area.

On occasion, there are huge wildfires in southern california. The particle pollution from those fires can be so bad that ashes can rain down for days. In October 2007 I was off the bike for almost 2 weeks due to a massive fire that dropped ash and particles beyond belief. The air quality and particle pollution index was off the chart that goes up to 500. As a reference, 50 is good and 100 is moderate and 200 is stay indoors, very unhealthful. It was like living under an active volcano. It got so bad that I left town for a week to get away from the junk.

xenologer

I thought a 'spare the air day' was kinda like a 'bike to work day', where people are encouraged to try and pollute less?
So, why would you need to "still commute" on such a day if you already ride a bike normally? Trying to avoid all the newbie riders or something?

Luddite

I'm asthmatic and lousy air quality doesn't do me any favours but being the stubborn wench I am, I don't let it stop me. What, not ride and have to take the BUS?!? Gross!

Luddite

The page load error is hiding the "edit" button for me.

https://www.weatheroffice.gc.ca/airqu...caq-006_e.html

Environment Canada lists the "air quality health index." Strangely, my asthma symptoms in bad air were way worse when I used to run, than it is when I cycle. Is the effort to run that much more intense? I cycle up some GNARLY hills that kick my butt, hardly a cough or a wheeze anywhere. Weird.