Spare The Air Program - Free Transportation Days

Free Transportation Days

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 non-holiday weekdays, many Bay Area transit agencies offer free rides to encourage public transportation use over cars. The number of allocated fare-free days varies from year to year, depending on available funding.

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.

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.

Historically, the following transit providers have participated in the free ride program:

• Altamont Commuter Express (ACE)
• AC Transit
• AirBART
• Alameda Harbor Bay Ferry
• Alameda-Oakland Ferry
• BART
• Benicia Breeze
• Caltrain
• Cloverdale Transit
• County Connection
• Dumbarton Express
• Emery Go Round (always free)
• Fairfield-Suisun Transit
• Golden Gate Ferry
• Golden Gate Transit
• Napa VINE
• San Francisco Muni
• Petaluma Transit
• Rio Vista Breeze
• SamTrans
• Santa Rosa CityBus
• Sonoma County Transit
• Tri-Delta Transit
• Union City Transit
• Vacaville City Coach
• Vallejo Transit
• VTA
• Napa VINE
• WestCAT
• Wheels