Politics & Government

Stop Driving Twice a Week – Air Agency Asks

The agency responsible for safeguarding the air we breath, the Bay Area Air Quality Management District, is encouraging residents to drive less and use public transit more.

As the warm weather arrives, so to do high levels of toxic ozone pollution.

To kick off this year’s Spare the Air season, the Bay Area Air Quality Management District is celebrating Clean Air Week by encouraging locals to reduce their driving – by leaving the car at home at least two days a week. The largest source of smog in the Bay Area is tailpipe exhaust.

“Reducing the number of cars on our roads remains the biggest air quality challenge we face in the Bay Area,” said Jack Broadbent, executive officer of the Air District. “We are urging residents to re-think their commute and leave their car at home at least twice a week - take transit, work from home, carpool or bike to work instead of driving alone.”

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When Spare the Air alerts are issued, it means ozone (smog) pollution is forecast to reach toxic levels. Smog is known to cause throat irritation, congestion, chest pain, trigger asthma, inflame lung lining and exacerbate the symptoms of bronchitis and emphysema, according to a BAAQMD announcement Wednesday.

Daily air forecasts are available by signing up for email AirAlerts here, by calling 1-800-HELPAIR or by downloading the Spare the Air iPhone/Android app.

Find out what's happening in El Cerritowith free, real-time updates from Patch.


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