Sparing the Air

Today has been deemed a so-called "Spare the Air" day in the San Francisco Bay Area. Harmful ozone pollution levels will rise dangerously high if citizens don't curb their creation of pollution.

Isn't this the case EVERY day, though? If people would adopt a more proactive approach to things there would be no need to warn everybody about sparing the air because it would already be okay. Why not take the time to rethink how you could easily modify your transportation habits to include more walking, bicycling, and public transit in addition to your car (or better yet, a car you share)? Notice I didn't say "instead" of your car. Cars are useful, but people don't realize many of their transportation needs can be more easily fulfilled by other, more practical and environmentally friendly means.

Tourists should think about this, too. Renting a car in San Francisco is just not practical, even less with the opening of the BART extension to the airport. Gas is more expensive here, stations in the city are hard to find, and parking is scarce and expensive. Compare that with MUNI's $15 7-day passport (including the cost of cable car rides) or $9 Weekly pass ($1 extra per cable car ride). Add a few more dollars for BART trips to the airport or the East Bay. The new BART extension even allows you to transfer to CalTrain in Millbrae, where you can travel to San Jose.