Decrease Air Pollution Research Articles

Environmental policy innovation in China and examining its dynamic relations with air pollution and economic growth using SEM panel data

Along with monitoring air pollution level and rapid economic growth in China, the government has paid attention to the environmental policy innovation (EPI) capacity of local governments. However, scholarly research has not yet clarified the ability of local governments in EPI and its related drivers and impacts. This study explores the dynamic relations between EPI, air pollution, and the economy for the first time, using the simultaneous equation model (SEM) in China during 2006-2015 across 30 provinces. To calculate EPI, this study introduces the comprehensive concept of policy innovation, consisting of invention, diffusion, and evaluation. The results show that EPI is strongly promoted by air pollution; however, promoting EPI alone cannot decrease air pollution. These results would vary among eastern and western provinces. Economic growth has a significant positive effect on EPI and can significantly reduce air pollution. This study suggests policymakers strengthen EPI in order to achieve a balance between air pollution and economic growth.

Transportation system analysis of empty fruit bunches biomass supply chain based on delivery cost and greenhouse gas emissions

The future of sustainable energy supply and production is moving toward the use of renewable sources like biomass. It is important to develop sustainable biomass supply chain (BSC) by enhancing energy security, decreasing air pollution, and reduction of total cost. The main barriers in the sustainable development of BSC are transportation cost and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions that represent substantial proportion of the total cost of the BSC. This paper aims to examine the delivery cost and GHG emissions of different transportation modes (train and truck) of oil palm empty fruit bunches (EFB) biomass supply chain. To achieve this goal, we used the data of three EFB suppliers in Malaysia as a case study. We then developed a dynamic simulation model using AnyLogic software to predict the delivery cost and greenhouse gas emissions. Results showed that the highest GHG emissions were associated with train transportation mode while it was lowest with truck. Cost analysis showed that highest cumulative transportation cost is associated with truck while train has the lowest cumulative transportation costs. These results highlight the opportunity for decision makers to minimize the delivery cost and GHG emissions by optimizing the transportation systems for BSC.

Macro-Scale Evaluation of Urban Transportation Demand Management Policies in CBD by Using System Dynamics Case Study: Isfahan CBD

Nowadays, in modern cities, travel demand management policies are more effective solutions for reducing vehicle traffic than road construction and private transportation infrastructure development. Traditional transportation planning methods that are appropriate for a partial analysis in traffic area zone levels require extensive data collection and only could be used to evaluate and compare a few number of demand management policies with limited criteria. In this paper, system dynamics modelling has been used to evaluate transport demand management policies. System dynamics is a suitable method for long-term macro-scale evaluations of different policies with various indicators, because in this method, causal relationships between variables and their feedbacks are considered as well as its dynamic approach, not needing detailed information in traffic area zones (TAZ) level, and the possibility of evaluating different policies. In this research, encouraging policies like improving the bus and taxi services, completing metro network development, improving bicycle facilities and encouraging to carpool as well as restrictive policies like cordon pricing policies, increasing parking prices, and odd-even policy and also simultaneously applying some of the encouraging policies and effective restrictive policies in the form of a policy package are being investigated in the central business district of Isfahan city. Urban transportation causal loops were conceptualized and the dynamic relations among urban transportation variables were created to develop the pertinent urban dynamics model. Efficacious transportation policies, which will be implemented for ten years, will be ranked in accordance with monitoring three indicators of air pollution, energy consumption and traffic mobility. Respectively, completing metro network development, BRT network development, improving bicycle facilities, cordon pricing, increasing parking prices, improving bus services, improving taxi services, odd-even policy, and encouraging to carpool are the most effective policies in Isfahan CBD. Among combined policies, completing metro network development simultaneously with cordon pricing has been the most effective combined policy to decrease air pollution and energy consumption and to increase traffic mobility in future.

Modeling for catalytic oxidation of volatile organic compound (VOC) in a catalytic converter

Pollutants present in the exhaust gases coming out from the motor vehicles engine are reduced by passing them through catalytic converters thereby decreasing air pollution considerably. In order to improve the design of the catalytic converters, mathematical modeling and numerical simulation helps not only to reduce the number of experiments but is also time saving. In this paper, a one-dimensional model for volatile organic compound (VOC) was developed using combination of chemical reaction, the heat and mass transfer between the exhaust gas and the catalytic surface. The modeled equations for the converter comprised of a set of coupled partial differential equations which are solved using the backward implicit method. The variation of solid temperature along the axial length and effect of varying the catalyst loading and inlet gas temperatures on the conversion of the VOC was analyzed using Pt/δ-Al2O3 catalyst.

The Low-Impact Development Demand Index: A New Approach to Identifying Locations for LID

The primary goal of low impact development (LID) is to capture urban stormwater runoff; however, multiple indirect benefits (environmental and socioeconomic benefits) also exist (e.g., improvements to human health and decreased air pollution). Identifying sites with the highest demand or need for LID ensures the maximization of all benefits. This is a spatial decision-making problem that has not been widely addressed in the literature and was the focus of this research. Previous research has focused on finding feasible sites for installing LID, whilst only considering insufficient criteria which represent the benefits of LID (either neglecting the hydrological and hydraulic benefits or indirect benefits). This research considered the hydrological and hydraulic, environmental, and socioeconomic benefits of LID to identify sites with the highest demand for LID. Specifically, a geospatial framework was proposed that uses publicly available data, hydrological-hydraulic principles, and a simple additive weighting (SAW) method within a hierarchical decision-making model. Three indices were developed to determine the LID demand: (1) hydrological-hydraulic index (HHI), (2) socioeconomic index (SEI), and (3) environmental index (ENI). The HHI was developed based on a heuristic model using hydrological-hydraulic principles and validated against the results of a physical model, the Hydrologic Engineering Center-Hydrologic Modeling System model (HEC-HMS). The other two indices were generated using the SAW hierarchical model and then incorporated into the HHI index to generate the LID demand index (LIDDI). The framework was applied to the City of Toronto, yielding results that are validated against historical flooding records.

Analysis and calculation of enclosed coal yard ventilation by using roof vortex flow natural ventilation

As the unsatisfied environment of the fossil fired power plant become more controversial and disputable, the current tendency of enclosed coal yard which helps to decrease air pollution gains more application than those open ones. In order to improve the indoor environment and ventilation effect as well as to achieve good energy conservation at the same time, this paper investigates the ventilation effect of the roof vortex flow natural ventilator. By using multivariate nonlinear regression analysis and the theoretical calculation of natural ventilation, this paper proposes an instructive natural ventilation model and calculation method of enclosed coal yard based on the indoor pollutants concentration control, which is highly recommended as a good design application in similar enclosed coal yard buildings.

A Monitoring System for Sustainable Urban Mobility Plans

Sustainable Urban Mobility Plans are developed in Europe rapidly. The future initiative is expected will change the image of European cities and will make transport systems efficacious, thus reducing congestion, decreasing air pollution, and offering alternative options for travelling. The impact of the measures being implemented needs to be monitored regularly to evaluate the effect of Sustainable Urban Mobility Plans, and progress in accomplishing the objectives and specific aims of Sustainable Urban Mobility Plans are assessed. Infrastructure measures often require considerable investment, and therefore, their rational use expected to create immense benefit to the public. This article analyses various European models for monitoring and evaluating Sustainable Urban Mobility Plans. The models are structured, proposing an assessment methodology for Sustainable Urban Mobility Plans. Assistance provided by the experts and the use of evaluation models for the analytic hierarchy process assists in identifying the significance of the monitoring indicators that allow assessing the priority orders and the importance of implementing mobility measures.

Considerable drag reduction and fuel saving of a tractor–trailer using additive aerodynamic devices

The drag reduction of commercial vehicles is the principal challenge to improving fuel saving and decreasing air pollution. Accordingly, several flow control devices, including gap fairing, cab roof fairing, boat tail, and side skirt were introduced to reduce the aerodynamic drag exerted on heavy vehicles. Although such devices have exhibited good drag reduction performance, their aerodynamic performance can be improved further. Moreover, a comprehensive and systematic research is required, including drag force measurement, flow field analysis and real-scale proving ground test, to evaluate the fuel consumption of heavy vehicles. In this study, the drag reduction effect of the aero full package (AFP) of a tractor–trailer, which integrated gap fairing, flap-type side skirt and lower inclined air deflector boat tail, was investigated through wind tunnel experiments and proving ground test. On the basis of the results of drag and PIV measurement, the integrated AFP was found to significantly modify the flow structure around the vehicle, thereby leading to a 26.5% reduction in drag coefficient compared with the reference tractor-trailer model (CD = 0.693). Furthermore, the proving ground test using real tractor–trailer verified that the integrated AFP provides 13.4% fuel saving. The present results will provide practical information for improving the aerodynamic performance and fuel efficiency of heavy vehicles.

Which decreases in air pollution should be targeted to bring health and economic benefits and improve environmental justice?

BackgroundFine particulate matter (PM2.5) exposure entails large health effects in many urban areas. Public measures aiming at decreasing air pollution are often designed without targeting an explicit health benefit. Our objective was to investigate the health and economic benefits and the social inequalities in exposure resulting from several scenarios of reduction of PM2.5 exposure, in order to support decisions about urban policies. Material and methodsIn the French conurbations of Grenoble and Lyon (0.4 and 1.4 million inhabitants, respectively), PM2.5 yearly average exposure was estimated on a 10-m grid by coupling a PM2.5 dispersion model to population density. Changes in death cases, life expectancy, lung cancer and term low birth weight incident cases as well as associated health economic costs were estimated for ten PM2.5 reduction scenarios differing in terms of amplitude of reduction and spatial extent. Changes in social differences in PM2.5 exposure were also assessed. ResultsDuring the 2015–2017 period, PM2.5 average exposure was 13.9 μg/m3 in Grenoble and 15.3 μg/m3 in Lyon conurbations. Exposure to PM2.5 led to an estimated 145 (95% Confidence Interval, CI, 90–199) and 531 (95% CI, 330–729) premature deaths, 16 (95% CI, 8–24) and 65 (95% CI, 30–96) incident lung cancers, and 49 (95% CI, 19–76) and 193 (95% CI, 76–295) term low birth weight cases each year in Grenoble and Lyon conurbations, respectively, compared to a situation without PM2.5 anthropogenic sources, i.e. a PM2.5 concentration of 4.9 μg/m3. The associated costs amounted to 495 (Grenoble) and 1767 (Lyon) M€/year for the intangible costs related to all-cause non-accidental mortality and 27 and 105 M€ for the tangible and intangible costs induced by lung cancer. A PM2.5 exposure reduction down to the WHO air quality guideline (10 μg/m3) would reduce anthropogenic PM2.5-attributable mortality by half while decreases by 2.9 μg/m3 (Grenoble) and 3.3 μg/m3 (Lyon) were required to reduce it by a third. Scenarios focusing only on the most exposed areas had little overall impact. Scenarios seeking to reach a homogeneous exposure in the whole study area were the most efficient in alleviating social inequalities in exposure. ConclusionsReduction scenarios targeting only air pollution hotspots had little expected impact on population health. We provided estimates of the PM2.5 change required to reduce PM2.5-attributable mortality by one third or more. Our approach can help targeting air pollution reduction scenarios expected to entail significant benefits, and it could easily be transposed to other urban areas.

Application of Information Technologies and Algorithms in Ship Passage Planning

Abstract With the continuous increase of international oil prices, more and more shipping companies look for new solutions to the ever present question: How to reduce operational fuel consumption and decrease air pollution. Ship route planning is an indispensable part of the ship navigation process. In the modern world, the passage planning aspect of navigation is shifting. No longer do we see mariners drawing course lines on a paper chart. No longer do they calculate distances with compasses. Elaborate algorithms on various digital devices perform all these tasks. Algorithms plot the optimum tracks on digital charts and algorithms can decide how to avoid collision situations. Nowadays charter companies do not rely solely on the experienced navigators on board their vessels to decide the best route. Instead, this task is outsourced ashore to routing and weather-routing enterprises. The algorithms used by those enterprises are continuously evolving and getting better and better. They are coming popular because of another reason – more and more the shipping society support the newly idea for using crewless ships. However, are they up to the task to eliminate the human element in passage planning? In this article, we are going to review some of the weak points of the algorithms in use.

Experimental determination of the geographical variations in vehicle fleet composition and consequences for assessing low-emission zones

Low emission zones are frequently envisaged as a means of decreasing air pollution in city centres. In the present study, we used video monitoring to characterize the in-use local vehicle fleet at several points in the Île-de-France region (which includes the city of Paris), enabling accurate description of the type of engine and vehicle age and emission standard, which together determine their pollutant emission levels. Local vehicle fleets differed from French national estimates, as further confirmed by a Regional Mobility Survey. Both approaches (video monitoring and mobility survey) demonstrated geographical differences in the proportions of diesel and of recent vehicles. Economically advantaged areas, with lower rates of polluting and diesel-fuelled vehicles, are thus further advantaged as regards air quality and less affected by driving restrictions. Simulation of pollutant emissions demonstrated the sensitivity of the estimates to local fleet composition. They also raised the important contributions of traffic outside the city centre, of heavy vehicles and cold starts. Knowledge of the local vehicle fleet is thus important for designing low emission zones that will be effective in terms of air pollution and equitable in terms of geographical areas.

Exploitation of petroleum waste sludge with local bauxite raw material for producing high-quality refractory ceramics

The aim of this work is to exploit the petroleum waste sludge, through mixing with different quantities of the natural raw bauxite, present in abundance in Al zubierah area in Saudi Arabia, to manufacture high-quality refractory ceramics for use at high temperature applications. Seven batches were prepared using different weight proportions of local bauxite and petroleum waste sludge (100–0 wt%), (80–20wt%), (60–40 wt%), (50- 50 wt%), (40–60 wt%), (20–80 wt%) and (0–100 wt%), respectively referred to M1, M2, M3, M4, M5, M6 and M7, the samples were prepared through solid-state technique to form cylindrical bodies by means of hydraulic pressing. The prepared bodies were dried and fired at different temperatures up to 1600 °C. The chemical and mineralogical compositions of raw bauxite and petroleum waste sludge were investigated using X-ray fluorescence (XRF) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) techniques. Their microstructure was depicted using scanning electron microscope (SEM) attached with energy dispersive X-ray unit (SEM+EDAX). The various technological properties of the ceramics bodies fired at different temperature (800–1600 °C) were tested. These properties involve; sintering parameters (bulk density and apparent porosity) tested using kerosene displacement method, the linear change tested by measuring the dimension shrinkage, mechanical properties (cold crushing strength) tested using an automatic compression machine as well as the refractory properties; permanent linear change, thermal shock resistance, refractoriness (Segar cone test) and load- bearing capacity. All tests were carried according to the international standard specifications. The chemical analysis using (XRF), and mineralogical investigation using (XRD), confirm that the petroleum waste sludge composed mainly from barite mineral (BaSO4), kaolinite (Al2(Si2O5(OH)4) and quartz (SiO2) while raw bauxite composed mainly from bohmite (AlO(OH)), gibbsite (Al(OH)3) and kaolinite. According to the International Standards, the used bauxite belongs to the high-quality bauxite grade (HQB). The firing temperature affects differently on the shape of the prepared bodies i.e., while the ceramics bodies prepared from M1-M5 keep their forms even at 1600 °C those of M6 and M7 have been fused at only 1400 °C. The technological properties of the prepared ceramic bodies are influenced by both firing temperature and the content of petroleum waste sludge. Ceramic bodies of M3 batch composed of 60 wt% of bauxite and 40 wt% of petroleum waste sludge was considered as the optimum among the investigated samples since they satisfy the requirement of the International Standards of refractory ceramics. This work is doubly valuable since it uses an available and cheap raw bauxite and consumes petroleum waste sludge (decreasing air pollution) to produce high-quality refractory ceramics with economic impact.

Quantified, localized health benefits of accelerated carbon dioxide emissions reductions

Societal risks increase as Earth warms, but also for emissions trajectories accepting relatively high levels of near-term emissions while assuming future negative emissions will compensate even if they lead to identical warming [1]. Accelerating carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions reductions, including as a substitute for negative emissions, hence reduces long-term risks but requires dramatic near-term societal transformations [2]. A major barrier to emissions reductions is the difficulty of reconciling immediate, localized costs with global, long-term benefits [3, 4]. However, 2°C trajectories not relying on negative emissions or 1.5°C trajectories require elimination of most fossil fuel related emissions. This generally reduces co-emissions that cause ambient air pollution, resulting in near-term, localized health benefits. We therefore examine the human health benefits of increasing ambition of 21st century CO2 reductions by 180 GtC; an amount that would shift a ‘standard’ 2°C scenario to 1.5°C or could achieve 2°C without negative emissions. The decreased air pollution leads to 153±43 million fewer premature deaths worldwide, with ~40% occurring during the next 40 years, and minimal climate disbenefits. More than a million premature deaths would be prevented in many metropolitan areas in Asia and Africa, and >200,000 in individual urban areas on every inhabited continent except Australia.

Extreme heat in India and anthropogenic climate change

Abstract. On 19 May 2016 the afternoon temperature reached 51.0 °C in Phalodi in the northwest of India – a new record for the highest observed maximum temperature in India. The previous year, a widely reported very lethal heat wave occurred in the southeast, in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, killing thousands of people. In both cases it was widely assumed that the probability and severity of heat waves in India are increasing due to global warming, as they do in other parts of the world. However, we do not find positive trends in the highest maximum temperature of the year in most of India since the 1970s (except spurious trends due to missing data). Decadal variability cannot explain this, but both increased air pollution with aerosols blocking sunlight and increased irrigation leading to evaporative cooling have counteracted the effect of greenhouse gases up to now. Current climate models do not represent these processes well and hence cannot be used to attribute heat waves in this area. The health effects of heat are often described better by a combination of temperature and humidity, such as a heat index or wet bulb temperature. Due to the increase in humidity from irrigation and higher sea surface temperatures (SSTs), these indices have increased over the last decades even when extreme temperatures have not. The extreme air pollution also exacerbates the health impacts of heat. From these factors it follows that, from a health impact point of view, the severity of heat waves has increased in India. For the next decades we expect the trend due to global warming to continue but the surface cooling effect of aerosols to diminish as air quality controls are implemented. The expansion of irrigation will likely continue, though at a slower pace, mitigating this trend somewhat. Humidity will probably continue to rise. The combination will result in a strong rise in the temperature of heat waves. The high humidity will make health effects worse, whereas decreased air pollution would decrease the impacts.

Infectious diseases as a cause of global childhood mortality and morbidity: Progress in recognition, prevention, and treatment

Child mortality and morbidity are far too high with almost 1% of all children around the world dying each year! Children living in underdeveloped countries (also referred to as “low-income”) and in those areas where crime and military actions are part of everyday life, come under increased threat from disease, starvation, trauma, and death. Infectious diseases are responsible for more than half of childhood deaths and an even greater level of morbidity. This article will review deaths in children, generally in those less than 5 years of age, from pneumonia and other respiratory infections (including bacterial pneumonia, pertussis, viral pneumonia respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), measles, and influenza, tuberculosis (TB), bacterial and viral enteric disease (including enterotoxic (ETEC) and enteropathogenic E. coli (EPEC), Shigella, cholera, infections, rotavirus norovirus, and malaria. Factors influencing disease epidemiology and mortality especially in underdeveloped countries will be noted. Much progress has been made in decreasing infectious disease morbidity and mortality during the last few decades, but much more progress can and should be made. The role of decreasing air pollution, improving sanitation, nutrition, mosquito control, immunization rates, and use of antimicrobial agents will be discussed.

The re-optimization strategy of multi-layer hybrid building’s cooling and heating load soft sensing technology research based on temperature interval and hierarchical modeling techniques

To avoid expanding existing fossil power plants, building the energy performance management system is an effect method to cope with a high growth demand of electricity in China's urbanization process. The accuracy thermal load prediction is the first step to build an energy performance management system which has important significance for energy saving, decreasing air pollution and high-efficiency operation of HVAC system.This paper discusses the use of hybrid intelligent approaches and re-optimization strategy, a multi-layer hybrid model (APNN) has been proposed by hybridizing an auto-regressive model with exogenous inputs (ARX) and a particle swarm optimization neural network (PSO-NN) to make a good use of the comprehensive information of the meteorological data and historical data. For the purposes of improving prediction precision generalization ability of the multi-layer hybrid model, temperature interval and hierarchical modeling techniques were used. According to the re-optimization strategy, there are two improvements of the previous proposed APNN model, which are based on temperature interval and hierarchical modeling by solar radiation intensity. Compared with the basic prediction models, validation results show that accuracy of the optimized models are greatly improved. What’s more, the optimization of multi-layer hybrid building’s cooling and heating load soft sensing technology enhance learning and generalization capability of the basic APNN model.

Assessing the resilience of urban areas to traffic-related air pollution: Application in Greater Paris

Recent studies report that outdoor air pollution will become the main environmental cause of premature death over the next few decades (OECD, 2012; WHO, 2014; World Bank, 2016). Cities are considered hot spots and urban populations are particularly exposed. There is therefore an urgent need to adapt urban systems and urban design to tackle this issue. While most European cities have introduced measures to reduce emissions, action is still required to reduce concentrations and exposure, and a holistic approach to urban design is badly needed.The concept of urban resilience, defined by Holling (1987) as the ability of a city to absorb a disturbance while maintaining its functions and structures, may offer a new paradigm for tackling urban air pollution. We propose to adapt the concept of urban resilience to outdoor air pollution.A method has been developed to assess the resilience of an urban area to outdoor air pollution. Three “resilience capacities” have been identified: the capacity of an urban area to decrease air pollution emissions, the capacity to decrease concentrations and the capacity to decrease exposure. The calculation is based on the analysis of urban design, defined as the pattern of buildings as well as the structural elements that define an urban area (urban morphology; transport network, services and land use). For each resilience capacity, indicators are calculated using a Geographic Information System (GIS) and a grid-based approach.This method has been implemented in the Greater Paris area within a 500m grid-cell system. Greater Paris is one of the densest urban areas in Europe and experiences high air pollution levels. The proposed “quick scan” method helps to localize areas where specific action is needed.

A forecast air pollution model applied to a hypothetical urban road pricing scheme: An empirical study in Madrid

Reducing the air pollution from increases in traffic congestion in large cities and their surroundings is an important problem that requires changes in travel behavior. Road pricing is an effective tool for reducing air pollution, as reflected currently urban road pricing outcomes (Singapore, London, Stockholm and Milan). A survey was conducted based on establishing a hypothetical urban road pricing system in Madrid (a random sample size n=1298). We developed a forecast air pollution model with time series analysis to evaluate the consequences of possible air pollution decreases in Madrid. Results reveal that the hypothetical road pricing for Madrid could have highly significant effects on decreasing air pollution outside of the city and in the inner city during the peak operating time periods of maximum congestion (morning peak hours from 7:00 to 10:00 and evening peak hours from 18:00 to 20:00). Furthermore, this system could have significant positive effects on a shift toward using public transport and non-motorized modes inside the hypothetical toll zone. This reveals that the system has a high capacity to motivate a decrease in air pollution and impose more sustainable behavior for public transport users.

Chances for Polish district heating systems

The most economical and rational means of heat supply for city inhabitants are district heating systems. Heat generated in power plants and large heat sources is cheaper than heat from individual sources. The reason for that is the amount of heat generated and the fuel used in district heating, a very important energy sub-sector for the Polish economy. Poland is one of the biggest users of district heating systems in Europe, and those district heating systems are mainly coal-fired.What next with district heating systems, will they still be developing? In the perspective of a few dozen years, existing district heating systems in cities will be developing. In case when the investment in development of a district heating system is deemed unprofitable, densely built-up areas will develop local district heating networks powered from trigeneration sources, which will contribute to better comfort of living, as well as lower costs of heat supply. In the long term (50-100 years) in low-energy or passive buildings, the only source of energy will be electricity and the energy demand will be at a very low level. The article will present some problems connected with district heating systems. Energy efficiency of district heating systems depends on many things: smart grid and hydraulic analysis, heat losses from pipelines, water leakages in district heating networks. Another chance for energy efficiency is cogeneration. Thanks to its developed and centralized heat supply system, Poland is ideal for cogeneration. At present, Polish district heating systems have an extensive infrastructure of pipelines and fully automated district heating substations. Polish district heating systems have a good chance to improve energy efficiency and decrease air pollution from power and heat sources. This article shows only some problems that can give opportunities for further development of the Polish district heating systems.

Active Travel in a Local Urban Environment: Strategies Supporting Safe and Equitable Bicycling

Background Bicycling has been proposed as a potential intervention to reduce sedentary lifestyles, decrease air pollution, and promote active transportation. In partnership with a local bicycle advocacy organization, this policy-relevant study sought to assess the knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors towards bicycling, among both riders and non-riders; explore the dominant safety concerns for bicyclists; understand equity issues related to bicycling; and identify the necessary policies, programs, and environmental changes needed to support bicycling in urban areas. Methods A sequential mixed-methods design was used for this study, and data were combined during the design and analysis stages. Data were first collected from an online survey administered from mid-February 2014 through April 1, 2014. Descriptive analysis were conducted with STATA 13. Findings from the quantitative analysis guided the main themes of inquiry during semi-structured interviews with a purposive sample of policymakers and advocates, and a focus group with neighborhood residents. A literature and document review supplemented the quantitative and qualitative data. Qualitative data analysis involved identifying key themes. Findings were disseminated to City leaders and the Mayor's Bicycle Advisory Committee (MBAC). Results The online survey was completed by 1,437 City residents (62% self-identified as regular riders). Primary reasons for riding were commuting to and/or from work or school (35.0%) and for recreation (27.9%). Although respondents were from over 20 different neighborhoods in the City, they were mainly White (87%), female (59%) and well-educated (88% had a Bachelor’s degree or higher), which reflected the City’s bicycling population. Nearly three-quarters of the respondents did not feel safe riding in the City. The leading safety concerns were motorists, lack of room to ride, uneven road surfaces, and the potential for crime. Only 37% of respondents said that the bicycling community was representative of the City population in terms of gender, race, and age. Key informants emphasized the safety risks, and acknowledged that the City suffers from inadequate infrastructure for cyclists. Respondents also highlighted significant inequities in neighborhoods where investments in infrastructure have been made, with perceptions that the areas dominated by tourists had the greatest investments. Conclusions This study highlights the importance of working with local leaders to collect data to support future policy and programmatic interventions to increase bicycling and equitable access. The findings of this study were broadly disseminated to the City Council, Department of Transportation, and the MBAC, which the lead investigator was invited to join upon completion of this research.