We’re lucky to live in a beautiful city – but there’s no escaping the fact that transport has become a hot topic across Oxford, including in our community in north Oxford.

Air pollution from motor traffic is a major issue, particularly for children and older people:

• A 2019 study found that, in Oxford, roadside air pollution stunts lung growth in children by 14.1%.
• Another recent study found that “[a]ir pollution from traffic is linked to some of the more severe forms of dementia“.
• And conversely, hospital admissions for asthma in Oxford dropped by 41% as air pollution from traffic fell during Covid lockdown.

The impact of transport

Transport is by far the largest contributor – and pollution inside a car can be more than three times higher than outside.

Changing Oxford transport

Measures that encourage walking, cycling and the use of public transport will help reduce air pollution and improve our health. Other cities such as Oslo, Ghent and Paris show that change is possible.

In January Oxford became the “UK’s electric bus capital” as 159 new electric buses were launched –  a big step towards improving air quality in Oxford. Further plans for change are set out in Oxfordshire County Council’s Central Oxfordshire Travel Plan, including the introduction of six traffic filters on arterial roads into Oxford – designed to reduce traffic, make bus journeys faster and make walking and cycling safer. The traffic filters will be trialled after improvement works to Oxford railway station are complete, expected later in 2024. Other proposals include a workplace parking level and zero emissions zone. Find out more on the Oxfordshire County Council website, or take a look at this summary of the proposals and their impacts, produced by Oxfordshire Liveable Streets.

Find out more

Visit https://www.oxonair.uk for air quality guidance and local initiatives across Oxford and Oxfordshire.

Sources:

https://www.mumsforlungs.org

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2024/feb/21/air-pollution-could-be-significant-cause-of-dementia-even-for-those-not-predisposed

https://policy.friendsoftheearth.uk/insight/which-neighbourhoods-have-worst-air-pollution

http://erg.ic.ac.uk/Research/docs/Personalised-health-impacts-Summary%20for%20Decision%20Makers.pdf https://eng.ox.ac.uk/news/lockdown-air-quality-boost-helped-41-reduction-in-adult-asthma-hospital-stays/

https://www.oxford.gov.uk/news/article/1469/new_data_on_key_sources_of_air_pollution_in_oxford