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I'm not sure these articles are good for my mental health. I live in Utah Valley, which has the worst air quality in the United States. I'm on the train right n

I'm not sure these articles are good for my mental health. I live in Utah Valley, which has the worst air quality in the United States. I'm on the train right now as I type this, it takes twice as long for me to get to work this way but i'm trying to increase train usage. People here are just so invested in making their hour long commutes with their gigantic trucks. Trucks are ridiculously expensive even before you factor in the prohibitive cost of gas and maintenance for them. It still doesn't seem to dissuade anyone. I'm considering protesting for more environmentally friendly city designs and transportation decisions. I could find an extremely congested intersection and protest by just pressing the walk sign and marching back and forth. Annoying, but probably effective at getting my message seen. I imagine that's the kind of protest that would get me arrested for being a nuisance.

AnimalMuppet 8y ago
Utah Valley (and Salt Lake Valley) trap pollution. There's no getting away from that. But the worst air quality in the US? After Geneva Steel closed? Worse than, say, San Bernardino, where the wind tends to trap LA's smog? I'm kind of skeptical. (Or do you have hard data, which I admit that I don't?)
- ip26 8y ago
  It's been in the news many times. I'm not sure if they have the highest average levels or the most #1 days, but they top the chart periodically through winter.
- bbradley406 8y ago
  It can change depending on the season and weather, but it is seriously bad and hit #1 for a day in 2017. [1] The geography does trap the pollution, but having refineries and mining operations just north of the city doesn't help. There are also loads of 18 wheel trucks coming through, since SLC is a bit of a hub area in terms of highways. Despite the city being pretty walk-able with decent (by US standards) transit, lots of people have at least one large 4x4 vehicle to get up into the canyons. It hurts to see since I understand the appeal of outdoors activities, but this way of approaching them will degrade and ruin the outdoors long term. [1] https://kutv.com/news/local/salt-lake-city-has-the-worst-air-quality-in-the-nation https://kutv.com/news/local/salt-lake-city-has-the-worst-air...
ip26 8y ago
I am far from you but follow some of UT news and it seems like there is some appetite. It is a conservative stronghold that loves it's trucks, but people also love their children, and having the #1 worst air quality is an attention grabber. Not to mention on the bad days it is enough for parents to witness it affecting their children. I don't know how to make it happen, and my local region has its own struggles with AQI we haven't yet solved, but it seems to me like you have reason to hope. https://www.sltrib.com/news/environment/2019/02/27/lawmakers-consider-bills/ https://www.sltrib.com/news/environment/2019/02/27/lawmakers... https://www.deseretnews.com/article/900057070/guest-opinion-the-clean-car-bill-means-cleaner-air-for-utah.amp https://www.deseretnews.com/article/900057070/guest-opinion-...

AnimalMuppet 8y ago

Utah Valley (and Salt Lake Valley) trap pollution. There's no getting away from that. But the worst air quality in the US? After Geneva Steel closed? Worse than, say, San Bernardino, where the wind tends to trap LA's smog? I'm kind of skeptical. (Or do you have hard data, which I admit that I don't?)

ip26 8y ago
It's been in the news many times. I'm not sure if they have the highest average levels or the most #1 days, but they top the chart periodically through winter.
bbradley406 8y ago
It can change depending on the season and weather, but it is seriously bad and hit #1 for a day in 2017. [1] The geography does trap the pollution, but having refineries and mining operations just north of the city doesn't help. There are also loads of 18 wheel trucks coming through, since SLC is a bit of a hub area in terms of highways. Despite the city being pretty walk-able with decent (by US standards) transit, lots of people have at least one large 4x4 vehicle to get up into the canyons. It hurts to see since I understand the appeal of outdoors activities, but this way of approaching them will degrade and ruin the outdoors long term. [1] https://kutv.com/news/local/salt-lake-city-has-the-worst-air-quality-in-the-nation https://kutv.com/news/local/salt-lake-city-has-the-worst-air...

ip26 8y ago

I am far from you but follow some of UT news and it seems like there is some appetite. It is a conservative stronghold that loves it's trucks, but people also love their children, and having the #1 worst air quality is an attention grabber. Not to mention on the bad days it is enough for parents to witness it affecting their children. I don't know how to make it happen, and my local region has its own struggles with AQI we haven't yet solved, but it seems to me like you have reason to hope. https://www.sltrib.com/news/environment/2019/02/27/lawmakers-consider-bills/ https://www.sltrib.com/news/environment/2019/02/27/lawmakers... https://www.deseretnews.com/article/900057070/guest-opinion-the-clean-car-bill-means-cleaner-air-for-utah.amp https://www.deseretnews.com/article/900057070/guest-opinion-...