Study finds ride-sharing services increase air pollution

湖南江华县第一中学 何高伦

一项新的研究发现，拼车服务让乘客远离了诸如乘公共交通工具、步行或骑车等更环保的出行方式，因此，它加重了空气污染。

?

难词探意

1. deadheading /΄dedhediŋ/ n. 空驶

2. scooter /΄skuːtə(r)/ n. 小型摩托车

3. electrification /ɪˌlektrɪfɪ΄keɪʃn/ n. 充电

A new study has found that ride-sharing services result in much more air pollution than other kinds of private and public transportation. Ride-sharing trips also draw passengers away from more environmentally friendly methods of travel, like public transportation, walking or biking.

Several studies have suggested that ride-sharing services like Uber and Lyft can worsen traffic problems in cities. The new study attempts to center on how ridesharing services affect air pollution. It examined the effects of ride-sharing services on seven of America's largest cities. Overall, the researchers reported that ride-sharing trips result in an estimated 69 percent more air pollution on average than the trips they displace.One of the big reasons is that ride-sharing vehicles are often driven with no passengers in cars. This happens when drivers are either waiting for rider requests, are on the way to pick up passengers or are driving in between pickups.

This situation, known as “deadheading”, takes up about 42 percent of all ride-sharing driving activities. The researchers said that deadheading results in about 50 percent more carbon dioxide than one person driving in a private vehicle.

Both Uber and Lyft do offer a choice of a “pooled” ride, which involves drivers picking up additional riders during the same trip. The study urges services like Uber and Lyft to work to increase the amount of pooled rides. It also urges the two companies to increase the number of electric vehicles on the road and to improve connections to public transportation centers.

Uber made no comment on the latest report, but the company said it aims to be part of the solution to address climate change by working directly with cities and added that Uber would continue to promote pooled trips and other means of transportation. Lyft said that the study made misleading claims about ride-sharing. But the company said it shares the goals of increasing the number of pooled rides and putting more electric vehicles in service.

Both companies have already operated businesses that offer electricscootersand bikes and have begun to include public transportation information in their systems. In some cities, they have also promoted vehicleelectrification.

Reading

Check

1. What can we know about ride-sharing services?

A. They can make traffic jams more serious.

B. They can replace public transportation.

C. They are highly thought of by customers.

D. They are the main means of transportation.

2. Why do ride-sharing vehicles cause much air pollution?

A. They use too much fuel to operate.

B. They are often driven without passengers.

C. They provide most of the transport services.

D. They belong to both private and public companies.

3. What's Lyft's attitude towards the new study?

A. Opposed. B. Ambiguous. C. Neutral. D. Indifferent.

Language

Study

Sentence for writing

One of the big reasons is that ride-sharing vehicles are often driven with no passengers in cars.

【信息提取】本句是一个复合句。 One of the big reasons为句子的主语，is为系动词，that引导表语从句。

【句式仿写】麻烦是我把他的地址弄丢了。