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Land Factors That Reduce Air Pollution

Some air pollution is caused by natural phenomena such as volcano eruptions and dust storms. Industrial sites and medical facilities contribute a share, and some air pollution comes from wood burning stoves, barbecue grills, aerosol cans and other pollutants used in the home. But a major source of pollution is caused by people's dependence upon automobile travel. There are methods of land use that encourage the use of alternate transportation forms.

  1. Mixed Land Use

    • Different land uses can be included in a neighborhood or development. Commercial establishments that offer both employment and shopping can be located along with housing, thereby reducing the necessity for long distance travel to meet daily requirements. Automobile trips may be shorter or even not required if facilities are within walking distance. Eliminating or reducing automobile use will help the drive for cleaner air.

    Developing Close to Public Transportation

    • High-density commercial and residential developments located close to public transit stations encourage use of public transportation. Although buses and trains do contribute to air pollution, the impact is much less than the use of individual automobiles. Adequate public transportation in the proximity may decrease the need for automobile ownership.

    Pedestrian- and Bicycling-Friendly Environments

    • Developments designed with the pedestrian in mind include sidewalks, clearly marked crosswalks and bicycle paths or marked lanes. These areas can also feature landscaping that includes shade trees, benches and other amenities that make walking or biking attractive and safe. A good pedestrian-focused design can greatly reduce the need for short vehicle trips and the air pollution those trips cause. If consideration is given to balancing employment requirements and housing, a self-contained pedestrian area may be developed to virtually eliminate the need for automobile travel.

    Urban Density Design

    • Strengthen downtowns by the redevelopment of underused or abandoned land in developed urban areas to provide compact neighborhoods with high-density housing. This eliminates the need for expanded suburban development and the use of individual automobiles for trips from those suburbs into the city. Additional benefits of density design are the elimination of the necessity of vehicle ownership and an increased use of public transportation.

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