49.Transportation, air pollution

Q.1 Do you think air pollution comes mostly from mobile vehicles?

Ans-Yes, I think air pollution mostly comes from mobile vehicles because it's mobile vehicles that burn fossil fuels directly in city streets, releasing exhaust gases at breathing level. This makes transport pollution very noticeable in everyday life. Another issue is that they produce emissions constantly in traffic jams, even when they are barely moving. In large cities, this happens on a daily basis. I'd also mention that many older cars lack effective emission-control systems and release more pollutants. Not everyone can afford to replace an old vehicle. So while there are other sources, transport clearly plays a major role in urban air pollution.

Q.2 Do you think people need to change the way of transportation drastically to protect the environment?

Ans-Yes, I think people do need to change the way of transportation drastically because current transport systems rely heavily on fossil fuels and produce large amounts of emissions. This kind of pollution affects both the environment and public health. Another point is that small individual changes are not enough to reduce pollution at a meaningful level. Using a bike once a week doesn't really solve the problem. I'd also say that without major changes, future environmental targets will be impossible to reach. That's why gradual steps alone won't be enough. So in this case, drastic change seems necessary.

Q.3 How are transportation systems in rural and urban areas different?

Ans-Well, to my mind, the main difference between rural and urban transit is that public transit in rural communities is extremely inefficient compared to that in urban areas. First of all, most rural communities offer relatively limited public transit services, which makes rural areas very car dependent. Secondly, rural areas tend to be more sparsely populated and trip destinations are spread out across larger distances. So transit operators in rural areas have to ensure efficient use of their vehicles across larger distances compared to urban areas. What's more, in rural areas homes, schools, and workplaces might be more remote and not fall neatly into line with a bus route, whereas cities pack their services and amenities into relatively small spaces. Finally, low population density makes practical and affordable public transport difficult to provide in rural areas.And because of this rural transit systems are dependent on a smaller number of drivers and vehicles, which means one bus being out of service in an urban transit system might not impact the entire network, whereas in a rural setting, this can cause a significant service bottleneck.

Q.4 Which mode of transport is more popular in your country, a bicycle or car?

Ans-Oh, I guess they are equally popular in my country but with people from different walks of life. Cars are mainly preferred by more wealthy people 'cause they are not too cheap. They are liked by people for their speed, comfort, flexibility and reliability. As far as bicycles are concerned, they are much more affordable. What is more, they give people more freedom, for example, from insurance payments, fill-ups, traffic jams, waiting and having a license. They also give people an ability to go to more places more easily and take shortcuts whenever and wherever they want. Oh, and bikes have little to no effect on the environment, which is a great advantage too.