Help Map Bike-Commuting Air Quality

The goal of this research project is to understand how much air pollution you are exposed to as you ride your bike in NYC, and also to measure how this exposure affects your heart. We are particularly interested in measuring your "inhaled dose" of air pollution - how much pollution you actually draw into your lungs - and how it varies as you exercise.

If you agree to participate in the study, we'll ask that you wear air pollution monitors, a special shirt that monitors your heart rate, and an automatic blood pressure cuff for six 24 hour periods centered around six morning bike commutes. This gear poses minimal risk, and should not inconvenience you or cause any discomfort. It all fits in an exercise vest, and it won't slow you down when you ride.

You won't receive any direct benefit from participating in the research, though it is kind of cool to know how much air pollution you encounter as you ride. We will use this information to make recommendations about how NYC and other cities can design bicycle infrastructure to minimize the risks of air pollution exposure.

The data will feed ongoing research at Columbia and contribute to cycling and public health, and our friends at WNYC will make sure the results of the study reach a wide audience of New Yorkers. But we need your wheels to make this work. So please join us.

The short form below will help us to distribute the air sensors in the most efficient way, and to make sure you are eligible to participate in the research. First, we have a couple of questions about your commute. We want air samples from a variety of neighborhoods, streets, bike paths and so on. We also have a couple of questions about any heart problems that you might have had in the past. You do not have to answer any questions you do not wish to answer or are uncomfortable answering, and you may stop at any time by closing your browser tab.

Your participation in the screening is voluntary. Your answers will be confidential. No one will know your answers except for the research team.

If you have any questions about the research, or if you experience any problems while wearing the study monitors, you can contact Prof. Darby Jack at dj2183 [at] columbia [dot] edu or at 212-305-1692.

If you have questions about your rights as a research subject or if you wish to voice any problems or concerns you may have about the study to someone other than the researchers, please call the Columbia University Human Research Protection Program at (212) 305-5883.

Thanks very much,

Columbia Mailman School of Public Health & Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory

Do you want to be a part of this project?
Bikes + Science = Fun!

Absolutely, I get the drill. I'll fill out the rest of the form right now.

Oh, is that what this form is for? Um, where's the back button.

First name

Last name

Email

What zipcode do you live in?
Not your address.

What zipcode do you work in?
Ditto.

How long is your communte?
On average, in minutes, one way...

Tell us your route to/from work.
Run us through the major streets, bike paths, bridges etc so we get a sense of the places you go every day.

What time do you usually commute?
Rough estimate is fine:

Example: 10:00 AM

When do you head home from work?

Example: 6:00 PM

How many days a week do you bike to work?

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

What kind of phone do you use? *
We'll have you use an app to track your location while you ride.

iPhone

Android

Other:

How old are you?

Do you smoke cigarettes?

Never

Sometimes

Often

On average, how many hours per week are you exposed to second hand smoke?
Cigarette, cigar, and/or pipe smoke due to smoking by others.

Do you have a history of heart disease?

Yes

No

How did you hear about this study?

Story on WNYC

Word of Mouth

Flyer

Other:

® 2014 by MSPH - Environmental Health Sciences.