Air quality impacts of a CicLAvia event in Downtown Los Angeles, CA

Environ Pollut. 2016 Jan;208(Pt A):170-176. doi: 10.1016/j.envpol.2015.09.010. Epub 2015 Oct 23.

Abstract

CicLAvia in Los Angeles, CA is the open streets program that closes streets to motorized vehicles and invites people to walk, run, play or ride their bicycles on these streets, allowing them to experience the city in a new way and get exercise at the same time. Since the events reduce the motorized traffic flow, which is a significant source of air pollution, on the streets, it is reasonable to hypothesize that the CicLAvia events can reduce the concentrations of traffic-emitted air pollutants during the road closure. This study is the first experiment to test this hypothesis. The on-road and community-wide ultrafine particle (UFP) and PM2.5 were measured on the Event-Sunday (October 5th, 2014) and the Pre- and Post- Sundays (September 28(th) and October 12(th), 2014). Data analysis results showed the on-road UFP and PM2.5 reduction was 21% and 49%, respectively, and the community-wide PM2.5 reduction was 12%.

Keywords: CicLAvia; Open streets; PM(2.5); Road closure; Ultrafine particles.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Air / analysis
  • Air / standards*
  • Air Pollutants / analysis*
  • Environmental Monitoring / methods*
  • Los Angeles
  • Particle Size
  • Particulate Matter / analysis*
  • Vehicle Emissions / prevention & control*

Substances

  • Air Pollutants
  • Particulate Matter
  • Vehicle Emissions