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A comment on London girl could be first to have “air pollution” listed as cause of death. Parent comment

Re:London girl could be first to have “air pollution” listed... by frereubu on Saturday May 04, 2019 @06:00PM (#19829656)
As I've said below, I should have been clearer that I do take the train rather than drive. My point was more about the calculations that don't make sense, and until those change in tandem with more investment in public transport (and yes, sort out those stupidly confusing fare structures on National Rail) we'll be treading water (literally, in London). I wouldn't really care if only rich people drove in London, if they paid enough to make a difference to public transport for everyone else. Even if they didn't the much cleaner air might be worth it.

There are stations like the ones you're suggesting. Forest Hill has free on-street parking less than five minutes from the station, but that would increase journey time significantly with the switch to another mode of transport with family in tow, and make a day trip much less feasible.

Fair point about some things not being possible though. Better to reduce the number of people travelling if it means a much cleaner, healthier London. I've even considered trying to commute to London from Brighton via bike during the summer, staying a night with a friend and riding back the next afternoon... That would be much nicer if I didn't feel like I was inhaling exhaust fumes for half the journey.

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Re:London girl could be first to have “air pollution” listed... by esotericn on Saturday May 04, 2019 @07:42PM (#19830120)
Ha. So I'm not the only one that knows about Forest Hill, then.

(Feels like it'd be a bloody pain to drive to from Brighton!)

The last part of your comment is what really hits home for me.

People driving private cars around damage other modes of transport. Cycling becomes less pleasant (near passes, inhaling shit, etc); buses are caught in congestion; everything becomes less dense; etc.

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Re:London girl could be first to have “air pollution” listed... by frereubu on Monday May 06, 2019 @03:28AM (#19837482)
Yeah, if pollution can kill that girl just because she lives near that junction, I just keep thinking what it must be like in my lungs if I'm pedalling hard and sucking in great gulps of the stuff.

(Sydenham is OK as a backup - a bit further south of the station on the side roads. Not as convenient as Forest Hill though!)

Edit: I seem to remember a study about health of cyclists (although don't have the citation so take with a pinch of salt) and it was universally better except in cities. Either crashes, pollution, or both, meant that cycling didn't make a difference to cyclists' health overall.

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