Wednesday, September 21, 2011

DAY 264 -- "Exhaust"-ed

Taking public transportation is supposed to be healthy for the environment, but after my experience today, I am wondering if it is healthy for me.


I had a doctor appointment today (routine yearly checkup) and decided to take the bus. Walking to the bus stop was healthy, especially since I got to the stop and realized that due to construction, I needed to walk even farther to a different stop so the bus could actually pull over.  


Extra walking.  That's healthy.  


The bus took me to a transfer point, where I boarded another bus, which sat and idled for about 10 minutes before departing.  I breathed exhaust as we waited.


Same thing on the way back home.  Took one bus to the transfer point, sat in an idling bus breathing exhaust for 11 minutes.  Then we got caught in construction traffic and I inhaled even more exhaust from the traffic around us (as well as the bus).


By the time I got home I was feeling ill and had a headache.  


The rest of the day I felt "exhaust"ed.  

4 comments:

  1. Wow, makes one think! Would it help to sit closer to the front of the bus?

    And how do bus drivers feel dealing with that? And does it really save our air or our fuel supplies when the buses sit around idling for that long, over and over, daily. There must be a better way!

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  2. Ugh ... those kinds of headaches don't usually go away very fast.

    Hey, I started a new blog today with the idea you gave me. I hope you'll come over and visit the new blog and maybe even follow me. Thanks so much for the idea ~ as soon as I read it, I knew that's exactly what I was looking for!

    http://365takeaways.blogspot.com/2011/09/take-away-1-blog-is-born.html?spref=fb

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  3. Lynn... I know, I kept wondering about "there must be a better way" as I rode the bus. Maybe they will eventually go to "greener" vehicles? I thought about waiting outside the bus while it was idling but it was hot and sunny (no shady area) and I would still be around the exhaust, so I opted to sit on the air conditioned bus.

    Susan... I am glad you liked my idea! It was for selfish reasons that I suggested it, since I really need to improve in that area of my life (paying attention to what life lessons are all around me -- and living in the moment), and I've enjoyed the "take aways" you shared on your other blog. I will definitely follow it! :)

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  4. P.S. They have a great monorail system in Portland, Oregon. If you ever go to Portland, it's the best way to get around. No exhaust fumes!

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