O.C. in Need of Better Means for Clean Air

It doesn’t surprise me that the Orange County Private Sector Task Force recommends that government remove air quality control measures from business.

The task force is composed of businesses and related interests. The fact is that everyone wants clean air, but no one wants to change their behavior so that we may have it. Under the Federal Clean Air Act, regions with severe non-attainment of clean-air standards, such as Orange County, must achieve a 15% reduction in air pollutants by 1996.

These reductions are against a 1990 base line and do not include fleet turnover (replacing old cars with new) or reformulated gasolines. Therefore, specific items--pollution-indexed car registration and replacing old cars with new--advanced by Mr. Jones will not bring the region into clean-air compliance.

All internal combustion engines pollute most while they are warming up. Internal combustion engines still pollute after they are turned off because fluids remaining in the crankcase when the engine is shut off evaporate, resulting in additional air pollution. Thus, in terms of vehicle miles traveled, short automobile trips are the most environmentally damaging. Converting short vehicle trips to walking and biking trips is the simplest, most cost-effective method to achieve the 1996 mandates.

Local government consistently choose automobile facilities over cycling and pedestrian facilities.

As a cyclist, I know that local government has ruined good cycling streets in order to increase automobile capacity. The message for cyclists and pedestrians is clear: Jump in your car and make a short, environmentally disastrous trip.

Perhaps the Board of Supervisors can steal a page from the Private Sector Task Force and impanel a public task force to develop a new transportation plan for the county.

The membership should include environmentalists, transportation specialists, city government, the disabled, minorities, businesses, seniors, children’s representatives, and, yes, bicycle commuters.

With a broad mix of citizens, the task force can develop a visionary transportation plan that will meet the needs of all Orange County residents--and bring clean air to Orange County at the same time.

MICHAEL R. MOTT, Chair, Orange County Bicycle Coalition