»Spare the Air

I'm curious why the last two "Spare the Air" days have occurred on non-working days (Saturday last week; tomorrow, Labor Day). This means that public transit riders do not receive the discount that happens when the Air Quality Index rises above 100.

If public transit is recognised as helping air quality, shouldn't drivers of private cars receive negative incentives? The Spare the Air web site says, " Most of the air pollution in the Bay Area is man-made, and results from industrial processes and everyday activities like driving ... ". And the first item under "What can I do to help reduce summer air pollution?" reads "The biggest action you can take is to drive less."
There's also the ironic, tacit acknowledgement that households have more than one car: "Drive your most fuel-efficient car".

This Monday, September 6, is a Spare The Air Day in the San Francisco Bay Area. Ground-level ozone air pollution is expected to exceed 100 AQI (Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups) tomorrow. Because it is not a weekday, there is no free commute on BART.

Manana es un dia "Spare the Air." Por favor, maneje su carro lo menos possible manana.

Clear skies, hot temperatures, a strong temperature inversion trapping pollutants near the ground, and light winds will combine to produce poor air quality for the Bay Area.

People are being asked to:
- Avoid the use of charcoal lighter fluid and barbecues
- Eliminate the use of gasoline-powered yard tools like lawn mowers and leaf blowers
- Exercise in the morning before air quality hits unhealthy levels
- Postpone errands and link necessary trips
- Use public transit whenever possible

To monitor current air quality conditions, visit www.sparetheair.org