Wildfire Smoke Takes Toll on Bike Commuters

How can people on bikes protect their lungs from the harmful effects of wildfire smoke?

1 minute read

June 30, 2023, 5:00 AM PDT

By Diana Ionescu @aworkoffiction


Male cyclists wearing helmet, sunglasses, and N95 mask stands with arms crossed in front of his bike

Elizaveta / Adobe Stock

As wildfires become more common and more widespread, worsening air quality around the country and the continent, bike commuters are faced with having to protect themselves from air pollution even as they participate in what is ostensibly one of the healthiest ways to get around. “Others have no choice but to bike — whether it is the main source of transportation to employment, or is directly linked to employment such as delivery drivers.”

In an article in Momentum Magazine, Ron Johnson outlines some guidance for staying safe during smoky days. Key tips include staying hydrated, monitoring your symptoms, and using the highest-rated filters in HVAC systems. 

For cyclists biking long distances, Johnson recommends taking a break at a library, mall, or other public spaces that offer smoke-free indoor areas and wearing NIOSH or N95 masks to reduce the impact of fine particles. “However, it is important to note that respirators do not provide protection against the gases present in wildfire smoke. Paying attention to your body and reducing or stopping activities if symptoms arise is crucial.”

Thursday, June 29, 2023 in Momentum Magazine

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Get top-rated, practical training

Concrete Brutalism building with slanted walls and light visible through an atrium.

What ‘The Brutalist’ Teaches Us About Modern Cities

How architecture and urban landscapes reflect the trauma and dysfunction of the post-war experience.

February 28, 2025 - Justin Hollander

Complete Street

‘Complete Streets’ Webpage Deleted in Federal Purge

Basic resources and information on building bike lanes and sidewalks, formerly housed on the government’s Complete Streets website, are now gone.

February 27, 2025 - Streetsblog USA

Green electric Volkswagen van against a beach backdrop.

The VW Bus is Back — Now as an Electric Minivan

Volkswagen’s ID. Buzz reimagines its iconic Bus as a fully electric minivan, blending retro design with modern technology, a 231-mile range, and practical versatility to offer a stylish yet functional EV for the future.

March 3, 2025 - ABC 7 Eyewitness News

View of mountains with large shrubs in foreground in Altadena, California.

Healing Through Parks: Altadena’s Path to Recovery After the Eaton Fire

In the wake of the Eaton Fire, Altadena is uniting to restore Loma Alta Park, creating a renewed space for recreation, community gathering, and resilience.

March 9 - Pasadena NOw

Aerial view of single-family homes with swimming pools in San Diego, California.

San Diego to Rescind Multi-Unit ADU Rule

The city wants to close a loophole that allowed developers to build apartment buildings on single-family lots as ADUs.

March 9 - Axios

Close-up of row of electric cars plugged into chargers at outdoor station.

Electric Vehicles for All? Study Finds Disparities in Access and Incentives

A new UCLA study finds that while California has made progress in electric vehicle adoption, disadvantaged communities remain underserved in EV incentives, ownership, and charging access, requiring targeted policy changes to advance equity.

March 9 - UCLA Luskin Center for Innovation