Bike, Car or Train: Which Commute Has the Worst Air Pollution?

The traffic in the Bay Area regularly ranks among the nation's worst — and sitting in traffic isn't just irritating; there's some downright unhealthy stuff in that air you're breathing.

Breathing in air pollution can irritate the lungs and aggravate both asthma and cardiovascular disease. However, a recent study from the California Air Resources Board shows that how you get to work makes a big difference.

Commuters participating in the study wore backpacks crammed with instruments to measure soot from diesel engines and other pollution while they biked, drove, bused or rode the train to work in Sacramento.

I decided to try it on my own daily commute from Oakland to San Francisco, using the same gear borrowed from the Air Resources Board. Over the course of a few days I measured the pollution while I biked, then rode BART, and finally drove to my office. Even though my little experiment was clearly not scientifically significant, the results generally matched what the researchers found in Sacramento.

BART was the clear winner for  me. Light rail also exposed Sacramento commuters to the least polluted air. Driving came in second for me, and biking exposed me to the most smog. The researchers found pollution levels to be pretty similar for cars, buses and bicycle trips.

I didn't take a diesel-powered train, but the Air Board noted that older Amtrak trains on the Capitol Corridor exposed participants to the worst air. However, Amtrak is updating its locomotive fleet with newer models, so future trips should be a lot cleaner.  Incidentally, high-speed Rail, when in service, will be even cleaner.

Fortunately, none of the pollution levels I recorded during my commute — biking or driving — were dangerous. Study participants in Sacramento were also well within safe exposures.

Below is a list of ways to protect yourself from nasty air while taking various forms of transportation.

1) Travel by Light Rail

My trip on BART from Oakland to San Francisco offered the best air. In general, the Air Board found electrically powered light rail to be the cleanest mode of transportation. That's likely because the trains themselves do not release any exhaust. However, the researchers cautioned the results may be different if the route is near a freeway.

2) Set the AC to Recirculate

My car trip was the second best. The Air Board said turning the air-conditioning on and setting it to recirculate (versus pulling in air from outside) can reduce pollution levels by up to 75 percent. In other words, roll up your windows and prevent as much air as possible from entering when driving through congestion.

3) Cycle On Bike Paths

As an avid cyclist, I was disappointed to learn that I was exposed to the dirtiest air while on two wheels. I'm going to try to find a less congested route because the Air Board says you can greatly reduce air pollution simply by cycling a block off a busy road or on bike paths away from heavy traffic.

4) Avoid Exhaust

Researchers found that commuters taking diesel trains were exposed to the worst air over other modes of transportation. It's best to avoid older diesel-powered trains that push rail cars, which were worse than engines that pulled cars. If you must take an older train, try to get a seat in a cabin away from the locomotive engine.

5) Check the Air Forecast

Air quality can change day-by-day and block-by-block. It's a good idea to check the current pollution levels before deciding what mode of transportation to take. You can check your neighborhood at airnow.gov, or sparetheair.org. This is especially important when there is a wildfire burning in the region or a temperature inversion layer puts a lid on the area, preventing pollutants from escaping.

6) Carpool

Sharing a vehicle not only shortens the trip because you can zip along in the carpool lane, it also means you're on the road for less time breathing bad air. Plus carpooling is a win for everyone because it means fewer cars are on the road spewing emissions and adding to congestion.