RAPID CITY, SD—University of South Dakota ecologists, along with sustainability studies graduate students at three other universities, have concluded a three-year study that puts the true cost of cleaner urbanized areas into perspective.
Although the team found that, since the 1980s, litter has decreased by 24%, and chemical pollutants in drain water has dropped approximately 13%, there has been significant reduction in the number of individuals publicly slipping on discarded banana peels.
"Yes, we expected that there may be higher costs in government spending on educating people about pollutants, or in workers hired to clean the waste," said lead researcher Ivey Lorcher, 47. "But we never really took into account the deeper costs to society."
Lorcher, who holds a Ph.D. in biology and has worked at the university for 16 years, said that banana peel-related slippings were a relatively rare occurrence even before the streets started getting cleaned up. Banana peels were scattered throughout the cities, but only in the rarest of circumstances were they placed on a smooth enough surface where foot traffic was likely that one would catch sight of an unsuspecting pedestrian suddenly losing friction and tumbling to the ground, spilling coffee all over their carefully pressed clothes, and casting important papers into the breeze.
"It was their rarity that made them so tantalizing, so special," commented Lorcher. "Imagine seeing a snow leopard in the wild. It was that sort of feeling."
Now, thanks in large part to the increased tidiness of high-traffic areas, Lorcher and her team suggest that the days of sighting an arrogant businessman clumsily falling on his backside and making an hilarious vocalization, all while on a very important phone call with his business partners, may be a thing of the past.
"I think this rings true with many people," said Lorcher. "I mean, really. When was the last time you were waiting at a crosswalk and a jogger with a perfect body, who was wearing all of her 'I'm-all-about-fitness' gear, and would never even give you the time of day, totally lost her sense of balance and nearly went flying into traffic before falling flat on her face thanks to a poorly placed banana peel? I don't think I've seen that for years."
As for implications of the research, Lorcher shared that her feelings are mixed. "As a scientist, I am certainly pleased to see that the streets and cities are cleaner. But, as a human being, I have to ask myself whether it is worth the price we pay."