If you would read the thread city riding, it says there that pollution in the city (particularly here in Metro Manila) is terrible. That is the main reason why the motion for a carless day did not push through not because of people who do not bike but because even the bikers admitted that the pollution is hard to take. How would you bike for 15 kilometers to the office and another 15 kilometer back home with that pollution entering your lungs. No matter if it is a carless day, the particulates are still in the air.Keyan said:If you are using your bike for commute to the city then you might be at risk of the air pollution just do your best to protect yourself from it. Keep a healthy and strong immune system and develop good habits. Pollution is beyond any single person's control but you can do something to protect yourself from it.
I don't think pollution is a big factor when you are considering the benefits of commuting. While it is true that you can find cleaner air as you move further away from the city, when you're on the city, whether you are riding your bike, walking to work, or driving in your car, the air you breathe is more or less the same in terms of the concentration of pollutants. If the air being very polluted is an issue in your city, you have to take a lot more precautions in many other aspects of your life than just when it comes to commuting with your bike. If that's not your case then I think you don't have that much to worry about because you are reaping a lot of benefits from the exercise that could actually make you more resilient when it comes to diseases.Vickeree said:Does the benefit of cycling outweigh the harmful effects of pollution... since we probably take in more polluted air than the average person on commute as we push on the pedals and huff and puff on our bikes...