The average carbon footprint per person in the United States is 16 tons.(What is a carbon footprint?) This is one of the highest rates globally, if not the highest. The increase in carbon dioxide (CO2) negatively impacts the  environment with side effects such as; rising sea levels, increasing rates of extinction, and growing food shortages. Elevated levels of carbon dioxide will not disappear overnight, even if we find a way to reduce it. However, implementing small changes now will have a positive impact on New York City. One small change that can alleviate carbon dioxide levels is to opt for eco-friendly transportation options, such as biking as opposed to driving. Therefore, the New York City Department of Transportation (DOT) should invest in more bike lanes and form campaigns that encourage people to ride bicycles more to help reduce the impact of carbon dioxide

The increase in carbon dioxide has side effects that negatively impact New York. The side effects are interconnected, creating a domino effect. Excess amounts of carbon dioxide entrap the sun’s energy, which warms up the atmosphere like a greenhouse. Because the atmosphere is getting warmer, NYC now faces “higher temperatures, more frequent and intense storms year-round, more rain in the winter, more frequent summer droughts, and higher sea levels.”(Forests and climate change) Changes in precipitation will further harm our health, food production, and the survival of plants and animals. Rising temperatures cause sea levels to rise, making it harder for marine species to search for colder habitats since their current habitat is becoming warmer. The trees in NYC live in a warmer environment that is not suitable for them. 

This is due to the lack of water from the frequent summer droughts. The frequent and intense storms that happen all over NYC is one of the main causes for floods. Sewage drains become blocked, causing water to accumulate in the streets, leading to a flash flood. These side effects effectively work together ,therefore, negatively impacting the environment.

In order to reduce the impact of the increase of CO₂ in NYC, we can opt to ride bikes rather than drive cars. Riding a bicycle has many positive benefits for humans and the environment. The benefits are highly rewarding for human health, some even “decreasing your risk for many diseases and chronic conditions including type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease and certain cancers.” (insert in text citations). Other health benefits include strengthened muscles and improved mental health. Riding a bike “improves circulation, strengthens your heart and lungs, lowers your resting pulse rate, and cuts blood fat levels”. (insert in text citations). Regular bike riding also boosts mental health. Endorphins, hormones that improve your mood, are released when biking, which  reduces anxiety and depression.. 

Now let’s discuss the benefits of biking for the environment. Some benefits include reduced pollution and improved physical health  Bikes are essentially zero-emission vehicles that do not consume fossil fuels. Cars, which are responsible for climate change, are the biggest producers of greenhouse gasses. “A typical passenger vehicle emits about 4.6 metric tons of carbon dioxide per year”. That is about “.96 pounds of carbon dioxide per mile”, which is a massive amount from only one car. However, “bicycles emit around 0.3 pounds per mile”, which includes  the emission produced for manufacturing the bike. That represents approximately a 104 percent difference between the emissions produced by a car and those  produced by a bike. Bikes also do not run on gas, which makes them more sustainable in the long run. The demand for gas is reduced, since it is not required for a bike. The process of attaining oil is already bad enough for the environment, with its “drilling, refinement, and transportation.” Bikes take up very little space, so the need for highways and parking lots is reduced. With fewer highways and parking lots, it will allow “more room for natural spaces and animal habitats”. (The environmental benefits of riding a bike.) 

The DOT should encourage the people of NYC to ride bikes for these reasons. Bike lanes should be put in every neighborhood with barriers from cars. Residents of New York City will feel safer when riding their bike out in the bike lanes, without having to fear if a moving vehicle will collide with them. The DOT should also set up campaigns that will bring veteran cyclists together with novices, to improve their biking skills. Different types of campaigns include social rides and classes that teach bike maintenance, helping to bring the community together.

  Investing in bicycles now will bring benefits for the health of all New Yorkers and for the environment of NYC. It may take a decent amount of time for our environment to become more stable, but the end results will all be worth it for the future generations to come.

References

What is a carbon footprint?. What is a carbon footprint. (n.d.). https://www.conservation.org/stories/what-is-a-carbon-footprint

The environmental benefits of riding a bike. All Kids Bike. (2023, March 9). https://allkidsbike.org/the-environmental-benefits-of-riding-a-bike/

Forests and climate change. Department of Environmental Conservation. (n.d.). https://dec.ny.gov/nature/forests-trees/climate-change#:~:text=We%20have%20been%20burning%20fossil,of%20native%20plants%20and%20animals.

What is your carbon footprint?. The Nature Conservancy. (n.d.). https://www.nature.org/en-us/get-involved/how-to-help/carbon-footprint-calculator/