330:, compared to $ 5,000 and $ 20,000 per ton respectively for a pollution reduction program. The cost for Spare the Air free fares is about $ 2 million a day, and MTC has claimed that the goal of the program is not reducing air pollution, but rather as an incentive for people to consider public transit. In addition, the free fares also attract criminal elements. Crime on BART increased, with BART police blaming youths riding for free for fights, assaults, burglaries, and robberies. Calls to BART police spiked by over 100%, compared to a 10% increase in the number of passengers on the same day the previous year. Because of this, BART is considering restricting free rides to only the morning commute.
17:
112:
123:
Non-compliance with federal air pollution standards can mean losing federal money for transportation projects like wider roads, new bridges, and mass transit. To avoid these penalties, each year for a certain number of Spare the Air days that occur on
333:
Riders of ferries also complained about severe overcrowding, with ferry ridership on the
Sausalito ferry experiencing a 500% increase from normal and ridership on the Larkspur ferry increasing by 150% from ridership a week previous.
138:
This program's subsidy drew increased media attention in 2006 when the traditional three annual free days jumped to six in response to the number of annual Spare the Air days declared being the highest in seven years.
142:
In past years there have been multiple free transit Spare the Air days. However, in 2008, the number was reduced to only one free transit day, June 19. There has been no free transit program since 2009.
98:
air masses. During winter Spare the Air nights, wood burning is banned and violators may have to attend a class or pay a fine of up to $ 500. Exceptions are allowed if a household has a power outage.
1059:
1556:
1049:
390:
hen the predicted ozone concentration is in excess of the federal health standard of 84 parts per billion, or an Air
Quality Index over 100 uch days are declared "Spare the Air" days.
402:
1566:
1511:
592:
1069:
1064:
58:
1531:
569:
1439:
827:
287:
77:
announcements to reduce their driving, refrain from using gas-powered gardening equipment and curb other air polluting activities such as painting and
1104:
302:
1190:
1506:
28:
1170:
498:
103:
are permitted on a Spare the Air Day, but are discouraged and the use of lower-pollution gas fuels rather than wood or charcoal is recommended.
1144:
373:
1526:
1334:
1200:
1000:
986:
560:
318:
researcher Aaron Golub calculated the cost per ton of pollution removed as a result of Spare the Air was estimated at $ 100,000 per ton for
1561:
528:
415:
1216:
669:
1551:
315:
1054:
476:
1491:
1454:
1404:
1314:
1029:
782:
642:
707:
1369:
662:
327:
1394:
1269:
1119:
162:
1469:
1349:
1304:
1124:
768:
694:
439:
487:
1429:
1389:
1175:
972:
884:
1414:
488:
don't blow it out the tailpipe just yet - The
Capricious Commuter - Getting around the Bay Area with Erik N. Nelson
509:
1496:
1419:
1409:
1379:
1299:
1274:
1149:
1129:
1024:
979:
587:
553:
343:
151:
135:
use over cars. The number of allocated fare-free days varies from year to year, depending on available funding.
1516:
1434:
1226:
1221:
1195:
1180:
217:
167:
426:
456:
1486:
1424:
1399:
1374:
1344:
1034:
966:
722:
1444:
1339:
1319:
1289:
1259:
904:
632:
573:
427:
BAY AREA / 4th Spare Air day this year - gasp / Extra state funds for transit assistance arrived last week
116:
36:
1231:
1139:
807:
737:
262:
172:
132:
40:
657:
361:
247:
1521:
1464:
1185:
919:
727:
712:
546:
277:
1154:
1114:
1109:
899:
839:
775:
227:
211:
1449:
1309:
1279:
941:
914:
876:
795:
272:
257:
237:
192:
50:
538:
1384:
1294:
909:
866:
813:
761:
732:
717:
603:
396:
267:
222:
202:
197:
95:
66:
62:
1364:
1359:
1354:
1264:
1236:
894:
702:
610:
242:
1459:
1324:
954:
617:
443:
282:
146:
Historically, the following transit providers have participated in the free ride program:
81:
can usage. People especially sensitive to smog are advised to limit their time outdoors.
1329:
1246:
1241:
935:
871:
674:
319:
207:
182:
1545:
1074:
993:
889:
652:
91:
78:
32:
1039:
960:
856:
820:
624:
323:
1044:
861:
681:
88:
16:
1501:
754:
647:
157:
74:
437:
39:, the season when clear skies, hot temperatures, lighter winds, and a strong
292:
232:
111:
1284:
801:
789:
637:
314:
The program has drawn criticism for doing little to alleviate pollution.
252:
187:
128:
100:
69:
over 100. On a Spare the Air day, Bay Area residents are asked through
1134:
1007:
949:
833:
297:
125:
94:
often coming from wood burning and other activities become trapped in
597:
532:
110:
70:
15:
380:. August 2, 2005. Archived from the original on 28 September 2007
177:
54:
542:
374:"Programme Experiences Spare the Air - San Francisco, CA, USA"
131:, many Bay Area transit agencies offer free rides to encourage
523:
1050:
1557:
Public transportation in the San
Francisco Bay Area
1478:
1209:
1163:
1097:
1088:
1017:
928:
849:
746:
693:
580:
119:
rides are available on selected Spare the Air days.
499:Freebie 'Spare the Air' rides a BART free-for-all
416:Spare the Air Winter - Frequently Asked Questions
43:combine and trap air pollutants near the ground.
20:Bus wrapped in Spare the Air promotional material
401:: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (
554:
8:
457:"Thursday Declared First Spare the Air Day"
1094:
561:
547:
539:
1567:Environment of the San Francisco Bay Area
49:are declared for days in which levels of
529:Spare the Air frequently asked questions
29:Bay Area Air Quality Management District
354:
87:are also issued during the winter when
61:'s federal health-based standard of 84
394:
1512:Northwestern Pacific interurban lines
477:Sparing ourselves pollution solutions
310:Criticism of free transportation days
7:
455:Cabanatuan, Michael (May 15, 2008).
316:University of California, Berkeley
14:
1527:Richmond–San Rafael Ferry Company
27:is a program established by the
1492:East Shore and Suburban Railway
1030:Bay Area Rapid Transit District
524:Spare the Air program home page
57:) are predicted to exceed the
1:
326:and $ 10 million per ton for
378:The Communication Initiative
1562:Air pollution in California
885:Stanford Marguerite Shuttle
510:2006 Spare the Air Overview
1583:
708:Angel Island–Tiburon Ferry
1552:Environment of California
1497:Golden Gate Ferry Company
1150:Salesforce Transit Center
362:- Spare the Air EVERY DAY
344:Environment of California
152:Altamont Corridor Express
35:during the summer in the
1517:Oakland Railroad Company
442:October 8, 2006, at the
218:Fairfield-Suisun Transit
168:Alameda Harbor Bay Ferry
107:Free transportation days
1487:East Bay Electric Lines
1285:Curtola Park & Ride
1035:Bay Area Toll Authority
723:San Francisco Bay Ferry
905:Rio Vista Delta Breeze
658:F Market & Wharves
574:San Francisco Bay Area
120:
37:San Francisco Bay Area
21:
1507:Market Street Railway
1055:Market Street Railway
808:Sonoma County Transit
738:Treasure Island Ferry
728:Red & White Fleet
713:Blue & Gold Fleet
263:Sonoma County Transit
173:Alameda-Oakland Ferry
133:public transportation
114:
41:temperature inversion
19:
1532:San Mateo interurban
1522:Ocean Shore Railroad
1305:El Cerrito del Norte
920:Vacaville City Coach
278:Vacaville City Coach
85:Spare the Air nights
1430:Santa Rosa Downtown
1405:Richmond Parkway TC
1390:Pittsburg/Bay Point
1325:Fremont-Centerville
1176:19th Street Oakland
1171:12th Street Oakland
900:Presidio Go Shuttle
776:Golden Gate Transit
228:Golden Gate Transit
1191:Jack London Square
980:San Benito Transit
942:Highway 17 Express
915:Union City Transit
877:Healdsburg Transit
796:Santa Rosa CityBus
328:particulate matter
273:Union City Transit
258:Santa Rosa CityBus
238:San Francisco Muni
193:Cloverdale Transit
121:
53:(a constituent of
51:ground-level ozone
47:Spare the Air days
31:in 1991 to combat
22:
1539:
1538:
1300:Dublin/Pleasanton
1275:Downtown Berkeley
1255:
1254:
973:Mendocino Transit
910:San Leandro LINKS
867:Dumbarton Express
814:Tri Delta Transit
762:County Connection
733:Ryer Island Ferry
718:Golden Gate Ferry
604:California Zephyr
268:Tri-Delta Transit
223:Golden Gate Ferry
203:Dumbarton Express
198:County Connection
67:air quality index
1574:
1479:Major historical
1355:Larkspur Landing
1095:
1010:
1003:
996:
989:
982:
975:
963:
944:
895:Petaluma Transit
842:
830:
823:
816:
804:
792:
785:
778:
771:
764:
757:
703:Alcatraz Cruises
686:
611:Capitol Corridor
563:
556:
549:
540:
512:
507:
501:
496:
490:
485:
479:
474:
468:
467:
465:
464:
452:
446:
435:
429:
424:
418:
413:
407:
406:
400:
392:
387:
385:
370:
364:
359:
248:Rio Vista Breeze
243:Petaluma Transit
1582:
1581:
1577:
1576:
1575:
1573:
1572:
1571:
1542:
1541:
1540:
1535:
1480:
1474:
1460:Vallejo Station
1420:VTA Santa Clara
1375:Novato Downtown
1251:
1205:
1159:
1090:
1084:
1013:
1006:
999:
992:
987:San Joaquin RTD
985:
978:
971:
959:
940:
924:
845:
838:
826:
819:
812:
800:
788:
781:
774:
767:
760:
753:
742:
689:
679:
618:Coast Starlight
576:
567:
520:
515:
508:
504:
497:
493:
486:
482:
475:
471:
462:
460:
454:
453:
449:
444:Wayback Machine
436:
432:
425:
421:
414:
410:
393:
383:
381:
372:
371:
367:
360:
356:
352:
340:
312:
307:
283:Vallejo Transit
109:
12:
11:
5:
1580:
1578:
1570:
1569:
1564:
1559:
1554:
1544:
1543:
1537:
1536:
1534:
1529:
1524:
1519:
1514:
1509:
1504:
1499:
1494:
1489:
1484:
1482:
1476:
1475:
1473:
1472:
1467:
1462:
1457:
1452:
1447:
1442:
1437:
1432:
1427:
1422:
1417:
1412:
1407:
1402:
1400:Richmond Ferry
1397:
1392:
1387:
1382:
1377:
1372:
1367:
1362:
1357:
1352:
1347:
1342:
1337:
1332:
1327:
1322:
1317:
1312:
1307:
1302:
1297:
1292:
1287:
1282:
1277:
1272:
1267:
1262:
1256:
1253:
1252:
1250:
1249:
1244:
1239:
1234:
1229:
1224:
1219:
1213:
1211:
1207:
1206:
1204:
1203:
1198:
1193:
1188:
1183:
1178:
1173:
1167:
1165:
1161:
1160:
1158:
1157:
1152:
1147:
1142:
1137:
1132:
1127:
1125:Ferry Building
1122:
1117:
1112:
1107:
1105:4th & King
1101:
1099:
1092:
1086:
1085:
1083:
1082:
1077:
1072:
1067:
1062:
1057:
1052:
1047:
1042:
1037:
1032:
1027:
1021:
1019:
1015:
1014:
1012:
1011:
1004:
997:
990:
983:
976:
969:
964:
957:
952:
947:
946:
945:
936:Amtrak Thruway
932:
930:
926:
925:
923:
922:
917:
912:
907:
902:
897:
892:
887:
882:
881:Kaiser Shuttle
879:
874:
872:Emery Go-Round
869:
864:
859:
853:
851:
847:
846:
844:
843:
836:
831:
824:
817:
810:
805:
798:
793:
786:
779:
772:
765:
758:
750:
748:
744:
743:
741:
740:
735:
730:
725:
720:
715:
710:
705:
699:
697:
691:
690:
688:
687:
677:
675:VTA light rail
672:
667:
666:
665:
660:
655:
650:
640:
635:
630:
629:
628:
621:
614:
607:
595:
590:
584:
582:
578:
577:
570:Public transit
568:
566:
565:
558:
551:
543:
537:
536:
526:
519:
518:External links
516:
514:
513:
502:
491:
480:
469:
447:
430:
419:
408:
365:
353:
351:
348:
347:
346:
339:
336:
320:nitrogen oxide
311:
308:
306:
305:
300:
295:
290:
285:
280:
275:
270:
265:
260:
255:
250:
245:
240:
235:
230:
225:
220:
215:
208:Emery Go Round
205:
200:
195:
190:
185:
183:Benicia Breeze
180:
175:
170:
165:
160:
155:
148:
108:
105:
13:
10:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1579:
1568:
1565:
1563:
1560:
1558:
1555:
1553:
1550:
1549:
1547:
1533:
1530:
1528:
1525:
1523:
1520:
1518:
1515:
1513:
1510:
1508:
1505:
1503:
1500:
1498:
1495:
1493:
1490:
1488:
1485:
1483:
1477:
1471:
1468:
1466:
1463:
1461:
1458:
1456:
1453:
1451:
1448:
1446:
1443:
1441:
1438:
1436:
1433:
1431:
1428:
1426:
1423:
1421:
1418:
1416:
1413:
1411:
1410:San Rafael TC
1408:
1406:
1403:
1401:
1398:
1396:
1393:
1391:
1388:
1386:
1383:
1381:
1378:
1376:
1373:
1371:
1370:Mountain View
1368:
1366:
1363:
1361:
1358:
1356:
1353:
1351:
1348:
1346:
1343:
1341:
1338:
1336:
1335:Great America
1333:
1331:
1328:
1326:
1323:
1321:
1318:
1316:
1313:
1311:
1308:
1306:
1303:
1301:
1298:
1296:
1293:
1291:
1288:
1286:
1283:
1281:
1278:
1276:
1273:
1271:
1268:
1266:
1263:
1261:
1258:
1257:
1248:
1245:
1243:
1240:
1238:
1235:
1233:
1230:
1228:
1225:
1223:
1220:
1218:
1215:
1214:
1212:
1208:
1202:
1199:
1197:
1194:
1192:
1189:
1187:
1184:
1182:
1179:
1177:
1174:
1172:
1169:
1168:
1166:
1162:
1156:
1153:
1151:
1148:
1146:
1143:
1141:
1138:
1136:
1133:
1131:
1128:
1126:
1123:
1121:
1118:
1116:
1113:
1111:
1108:
1106:
1103:
1102:
1100:
1098:San Francisco
1096:
1093:
1087:
1081:
1080:Spare the Air
1078:
1076:
1075:SolanoExpress
1073:
1071:
1068:
1066:
1063:
1061:
1058:
1056:
1053:
1051:
1048:
1046:
1043:
1041:
1038:
1036:
1033:
1031:
1028:
1026:
1023:
1022:
1020:
1016:
1009:
1005:
1002:
998:
995:
994:SolanoExpress
991:
988:
984:
981:
977:
974:
970:
968:
965:
962:
958:
956:
953:
951:
948:
943:
939:
938:
937:
934:
933:
931:
927:
921:
918:
916:
913:
911:
908:
906:
903:
901:
898:
896:
893:
891:
890:Marin Transit
888:
886:
883:
880:
878:
875:
873:
870:
868:
865:
863:
860:
858:
855:
854:
852:
848:
841:
837:
835:
832:
829:
825:
822:
818:
815:
811:
809:
806:
803:
799:
797:
794:
791:
787:
784:
780:
777:
773:
770:
766:
763:
759:
756:
752:
751:
749:
745:
739:
736:
734:
731:
729:
726:
724:
721:
719:
716:
714:
711:
709:
706:
704:
701:
700:
698:
696:
692:
685:
683:
678:
676:
673:
671:
668:
664:
661:
659:
656:
654:
653:E Embarcadero
651:
649:
646:
645:
644:
641:
639:
636:
634:
631:
627:
626:
622:
620:
619:
615:
613:
612:
608:
606:
605:
601:
600:
599:
596:
594:
591:
589:
586:
585:
583:
579:
575:
571:
564:
559:
557:
552:
550:
545:
544:
541:
534:
530:
527:
525:
522:
521:
517:
511:
506:
503:
500:
495:
492:
489:
484:
481:
478:
473:
470:
458:
451:
448:
445:
441:
438:
434:
431:
428:
423:
420:
417:
412:
409:
404:
398:
391:
379:
375:
369:
366:
363:
358:
355:
349:
345:
342:
341:
337:
335:
331:
329:
325:
321:
317:
309:
304:
301:
299:
296:
294:
291:
289:
286:
284:
281:
279:
276:
274:
271:
269:
266:
264:
261:
259:
256:
254:
251:
249:
246:
244:
241:
239:
236:
234:
231:
229:
226:
224:
221:
219:
216:
213:
209:
206:
204:
201:
199:
196:
194:
191:
189:
186:
184:
181:
179:
176:
174:
171:
169:
166:
164:
161:
159:
156:
153:
150:
149:
147:
144:
140:
136:
134:
130:
127:
118:
113:
106:
104:
102:
97:
93:
90:
86:
82:
80:
79:aerosol spray
76:
72:
68:
64:
60:
56:
52:
48:
44:
42:
38:
34:
33:air pollution
30:
26:
25:Spare the Air
18:
1465:Walnut Creek
1455:Vacaville TC
1315:Fairfield TC
1227:Eastridge TC
1120:Civic Center
1079:
1040:Clipper card
961:Lake Transit
929:Regional bus
857:Bear Transit
821:VINE Transit
680:
625:San Joaquins
623:
616:
609:
602:
505:
494:
483:
472:
461:. Retrieved
459:. SFGate.com
450:
433:
422:
411:
389:
382:. Retrieved
377:
368:
357:
332:
324:hydrocarbons
313:
145:
141:
137:
122:
84:
83:
46:
45:
24:
23:
1415:Santa Clara
1345:Hercules TC
1186:Eastmont TC
1155:West Portal
1115:Embarcadero
1110:Balboa Park
1045:Commute.org
1025:All Nighter
862:Commute.org
682:Valley Link
384:10 November
89:particulate
1546:Categories
1502:Key System
1450:Union City
1425:Santa Rosa
1310:Emeryville
1280:Cloverdale
1130:Montgomery
755:AC Transit
663:cable cars
648:Muni Metro
463:2008-05-14
350:References
158:AC Transit
75:television
1435:Sausalito
1385:Palo Alto
1350:Hillsdale
1295:Daly City
1232:Metro/SJC
1217:Berryessa
1196:MacArthur
955:Greyhound
850:Minor bus
747:Major bus
684:(planned)
293:Napa VINE
233:Napa VINE
101:Barbecues
92:emissions
1481:services
1395:Richmond
1380:Petaluma
1365:Millbrae
1360:Martinez
1270:Berkeley
1265:Bay Fair
1237:Milpitas
1210:San Jose
1181:Coliseum
1145:SF State
1091:stations
1018:Entities
802:SolTrans
790:SamTrans
638:Caltrain
593:AirTrain
440:Archived
397:cite web
338:See also
253:SamTrans
210:(always
188:Caltrain
129:weekdays
96:stagnant
65:, or an
1470:Windsor
1445:Tiburon
1340:Hayward
1320:Fremont
1290:Concord
1260:Antioch
1222:Diridon
1164:Oakland
1135:Pier 41
1008:Yolobus
1001:StanRTA
967:Megabus
950:FlixBus
834:WestCAT
572:in the
298:WestCAT
163:AirBART
126:holiday
1330:Gilroy
1247:Tasman
1242:Tamien
1140:Powell
840:Wheels
598:Amtrak
533:KGO-TV
303:Wheels
1089:Major
1070:SFMTA
1065:SFCTA
695:Ferry
670:SMART
154:(ACE)
115:Free
71:radio
783:Muni
769:FAST
643:Muni
633:BART
581:Rail
403:link
386:2016
322:and
212:free
178:BART
124:non-
117:BART
73:and
55:smog
1440:SFO
1201:OAK
1060:MTC
828:VTA
588:ACE
288:VTA
63:ppb
59:EPA
1548::
399:}}
395:{{
388:.
376:.
562:e
555:t
548:v
535:)
531:(
466:.
405:)
214:)
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.