Despite Progress And More Bike Lanes, Chicago Still Gets Failing Grade On Air Quality

CHICAGO (CBS) -- Taking a look outside in its annual "The State of the Air" report, the American Lung Association says the air out there is getting better, but Chicago still gets a failing grade.

CBS 2's Jim Williams reports the growing numbers of bike riders is good for the environment, but that ALA report says Chicago still has a long way to go to reduce ozone pollution.

Andrew Hertzman is an avid bike rider who doesn't own a car.

"Just this week, I've biked along the lakeshore, along the boulevards," he said. "I've been to Bridgeport. I've been to Little Village."

Many other Chicagoans have joined Hertzman in ditching the car, taking advantage of all the new bike lanes. Especially the young, says Jim Merrel of the Active Transportation Alliance.

"People who say that they ride their bike to work has actually roughly tripled since 2000," he said.

So Chicago's air is healthier, right?

"Chicago has for a long time been trending in the right direction," said Mike Kolleng of the American Lung Association. "It's that failing grade that we're taking a look at."

Still a failing grade. According Kolleng, Chicago has the 21st worst ozone pollution in the nation.

"Unfortunately, pollution is one of those things that is at the whims of certain things such as weather patterns, heat waves and now we're starting to get in the talk about climate change," Kolleng said.

But the Lung Association says it would be worse without bikers like Andrew Hertzman.

"For me, I think it's the best way to get around, but it is more like an added benefit for sure," Hertzman said.

One other encouraging trend: studies show more Chicago area baby boomers are moving closer to work, walking and taking public transportation.