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Urban air pollution and time losses: Evidence from cyclists in London

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  • Klingen, Joris
  • van Ommeren, Jos

Abstract

We provide novel evidence of the immediate impact of air pollution on time delays in urban outdoor activities. We focus on ambient ozone, which is known to reduce lung capacity. We estimate its effect on cycling speed in London using several estimation strategies, and find that ozone reduces speed for concentrations above 20 ppb, which is far below the minimum threshold suggested by other studies. A 10 ppb increase in ozone concentration leads to a 0.3–0.4% reduction in cycling speed, despite that most cycling trips are short, so that exposure to ozone tends to be short. It seems plausible that ozone induces time losses of similar magnitude of other outdoor activities, such as walking.

Suggested Citation

  • Klingen, Joris & van Ommeren, Jos, 2020. "Urban air pollution and time losses: Evidence from cyclists in London," Regional Science and Urban Economics, Elsevier, vol. 81(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:regeco:v:81:y:2020:i:c:s0166046219303813
    DOI: 10.1016/j.regsciurbeco.2019.103504
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    Cited by:

    1. Joris Klingen & Jos Ommeren, 2022. "Risk-Taking and Air Pollution: Evidence from Chess," Environmental & Resource Economics, Springer;European Association of Environmental and Resource Economists, vol. 81(1), pages 73-93, January.
    2. Joris Klingen & Jos van Ommeren, 2020. "Risk attitude and air pollution: Evidence from chess," Tinbergen Institute Discussion Papers 20-027/VIII, Tinbergen Institute.
    3. Schindler, Mirjam & Wang, Judith Y.T. & Connors, Richard D., 2021. "A two-stage residential location and transport mode choice model with exposure to traffic-induced air pollution," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 93(C).
    4. Willberg, Elias S & Tenkanen, Henrikki & Poom, Age & Salonen, Maria & Toivonen, Tuuli, 2021. "Comparing spatial data sources for cycling studies – a review," SocArXiv ruy3j, Center for Open Science.
    5. Han, Qing & Liu, Ying & Lu, Zilong, 2020. "Temporary driving restrictions, air pollution, and contemporaneous health: Evidence from China," Regional Science and Urban Economics, Elsevier, vol. 84(C).

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Air pollution; Ozone; Physical effort; Cycling; Speed;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • I18 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Government Policy; Regulation; Public Health
    • Q53 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Environmental Economics - - - Air Pollution; Water Pollution; Noise; Hazardous Waste; Solid Waste; Recycling
    • R41 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - Transportation Economics - - - Transportation: Demand, Supply, and Congestion; Travel Time; Safety and Accidents; Transportation Noise

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