What Happened?
Paris is offering residents three days of free public transportation services in an effort to combat the rising level of air pollution. Officials are offering the deal to increase ridership and nip the pollution concern in the bud.
The Goal
The smog levels have reached their highest density since 2007, placing nearly three-quarters of France under an environmental alert by the European Environment Agency. As a result, subways, buses and trains will be free to residents and travelers Friday through Sunday in Paris, Caen and Rouen. The region will also sponsor free bike-shares and one-hour electric car shares during the three-day period.
The cause of France’s noticeably thick smog levels is suspected to be a combination of little wind activity, cold nights and unseasonably warm days. Belgium has also reported increased smog levels, and officials there have reduced the maximum speed limit on main roads to keep greenhouse gas emissions down. The southern Wallonia region is offering free bus, train and subway rides to residents until emergency pollution warnings are removed.
What It Means
The smog levels of Paris as of late are resembling those reported in Beijing earlier this year, which is one of the world’s most heavily polluted cities. French authorities are asking residents to leave their cars at home and configure a way to use public transportation to navigate commutes and other travels. Furthermore, children, the elderly and people with asthma or heart problems are encouraged to stay indoors and avoid inhaling the hazardous air. Until the pollution levels decline significantly, the majority of France is in a state of emergency.
U.S. Transit Trends
According to a recent report from The American Public Transportation Association, the United States is also making good use of public transit options. More Americans are rode buses, trains and subways in 2013 than any year dating back to 1956. Across the country, 10.65 billion trips were taken on transit systems last year, exceeding the last largest jump of 10.59 billion in 2008 when gas prices reached $5 a gallon.
Between 1995 and 2013, public transportation ridership increased 37 percent while population jumped 20 percent and vehicle miles traveled only grew 23 percent in the same time period. With gas prices lower than $5 a gallon in 2013, other factors were contributing to higher ridership levels.
Kevin Ortiz from the Metropolitan Transportation Authority in New York told the New York Times ridership increased 3.6 percent between 2012 and 2013 due to job growth and improved services. To help bolster and sustain economic growth, many cities are investing in public transportation to enable residents to fill job openings. The system offers discounts for certain demographics to encourage use of the trains and buses during non-peak times which is increasing ridership.
In Denver, the local transit district reported 101 million passenger trips taken in 2013, setting a new city record. Many residents are opting for public transit over personal automobiles to avoid traffic and enjoy greater convenience when navigating the city.
While ridership is high in many growing economies, the trick to engaging the public seems to be creating awareness of the accessibility, affordability and ease-of-use associated with the transit systems.
Full Speed Ahead
Gov1 has followed similar free transit initiatives as well as numerous pushes to make public transportation more energy efficient.