It was a hot, hot 105-degree afternoon when I caught the Tri Delta bus to Pittsburg and then the BART to Fremont. The only consolation about the sweltering experience was the fact that the rides were free, and that maybe there was a significant number of commuters who chose to park their cars today and not contribute to the already hot, stagnant, and polluted air quality.
Last Friday, July 21, was the sixth and final budgeted Free Fare day of the year for $7.5 million Spare the Air program. Though it was the last free-ride day, it certainly is not the last of the program which runs from June 1 through October 13 for the summer Spare the Air season.
I saved $12.40 round-trip to play badminton and kept one more car off the highway.
Established by the Bay Area Air Quality Management District, in 1991, Spare the Air aimed to reduce air pollution and provide advance notice when a "bad air day" (when ozone levels exceed the federal health standards) is likely to occur, alerting the vulnerable seniors, young children, and those with lung and heart problems.
On Spare the Air Days, Bay Area residents are asked to fight pollution by driving less, taking public transportation, trip-linking, walking, biking, choosing not to use gasoline-powered lawn and garden equipment, and avoiding polluting household products. People who are especially sensitive to pollution are advised to limit their time outdoors, particularly in the afternoon hours.
In perhaps their biggest effort to lure commuters leave their cars, this was the first time the Spare the Air program offered free rides all-day, instead of the past free rides during the morning commute only. Jeannie Krieg CEO of Tri Delta Transit has disclosed that ridership has increased 19% during the free Spare the Air days, with a record of 11,144 riders—their highest ever—last Thursday, July 20.
“It’s too early to tell the impact on pollution or if people will take their cars less. But we are hoping that Spare the Air will have achieve their desired impact,” Krieg said.
The best things in life are definitely free. . .or low-cost--and that's my point.
Visit Spare The Air for more details on how to fight pollution or for air-alert advisories in your area.
No comments:
Post a Comment