Limiting Exposure to Traffic-Related Air Pollution Near Denver Public Schools Through Anti-Idling Campaigns

Abstract

As one of the nation’s more populous cities, Denver experiences substantial traffic-related congestion, making its air quality one of the worst in the nation. In 2018, the City and County of Denver conducted a series of anti-idling campaigns to educate Denver school communities on their idling behaviors. Three Denver Public School campuses were selected to undergo three weeks of data collection and behavior change intervention experiments. Volunteers collected data during afternoon school pick-up by recording how many vehicles idled. After a week of baseline data collection, Denver introduced different idling reduction methods, first by placing anti-idling signs in pick-up lanes and then by sending home anti-idling pledges to parents through their child’s take-home folders. As a result, the school sites noticed a reduction in vehicle idling and idling duration from the first week of the study to the last. The results of this study support additional research planned by the City to measure the reduction in fine particulate matter due to behavioral interventions at schools.