Start Of Summer 'Spare The Air' Highlights Commuting Alternatives

The Bay Area Air Quality Management District announced the official start of this year’s Spare the Air summer season Monday.

The Spare the Air program aims to reduce air pollution in the Bay Area by encouraging people to drive less and find alternative ways to work, BAAQMD officials said.

“Increasingly, Bay Area roads are at a standstill with more commuter traffic which creates unhealthy smog,” Jack Broadbent, executive officer of the air district, said in a statement.

“Instead of sitting idle on gridlocked roads, rethink your commute. Consider a commute alternative by carpooling, taking transit, biking or walking to reduce summer air pollution, giving you time to read the news, check your email or play Candy Crush,” Broadbent said.

According to results from a survey by the BAAQMD, employees are more likely to adopt alternatives to driving alone to work if their employer encourages it, air district officials said. Since September 2014, employers with a fulltime staff of 50 or more are now required to offer commuter benefit options to their employees and register at www.commuterbenefits.511.org.

As part of the Spare the Air summer outreach campaign, the air district is offering information and tips for Bay Area residents on how to shorten or share their commute on www.stacommutetips.org. Spare the Air health alerts are issued during the summer months when air pollution is expected to reach unhealthy levels.

That can cause throat irritation, congestion and chest pain, according to air district officials. Unhealthy levels of air pollution can also trigger asthma attacks, inflame the lining of the lungs and worsen pulmonary conditions like bronchitis and emphysema.

Those most at risk are young children, seniors and people with heart and respiratory conditions, air district officials said.

--Bay City News

--Patch file photo, credit Renee Schiavone

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