I wear a respirator outside because of the cars. I don’t have to see them even and I can smell them the moment I leave my excessively air filtered house. There is no more go outside for fresh air in North american cities. I can’t run or bike without the respirator or I will feel out of breath instantly, walking feels like a chore. Maybe it’s better deep in the woods but people don’t live there. Compared to some small towns in europe I’ve been to where cars are only used when absolutely needed, we are so polluted yet everyone is blind to it because its always there. People literally drive their cars 400 meters to go to the local shopping center or to drop off their high school age kids at school.
Holy damn, I’m sorry to hear that. For context, I live in a small town in Europe.
I’ve been to Colorado once, it was a rather weird experience how insistent people were at staying in their car. But it did result in completely empty walking paths trough a local nature reserve/park which was great.
