Ride bus for 75 cents on ozone alert days

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On summer days when the ozone levels are high in Kansas City, bus riders get a reduced fare.

The annual program began on June 1. The Kansas City Area Transportation Authority (KCATA) again this year offers a 75 cent fare when an ozone alert is predicted. That same fare will also be available on Johnson County Transit’s The JO, Unified Government Transit and IndeBus routes.

You can check on the ozone alert status at (913) 383-7557, at www.marc.org, and on www.twitter.com at @airqkc.

Here’s more information on the reduced fares from the KCATA:

By riding the bus instead of driving their own cars, commuters can help reduce auto emissions that pollute the air. Emissions are a major contributor to ground-level ozone in Kansas City, which is created when pollution from cars and other sources react in sunlight. Heat and sunlight combine to make ozone pollution a frequent problem during the summer months.

“Whether people ride The Metro all summer, or just on Ozone Alert! days, driving less helps all Kansas Citians breathe easier,” KCATA Director of Communications Cindy Baker said. “Not to mention the reduction in fuel costs.”

Ozone’s harmful effects can include eye, nose and throat irritation; chest pain; coughing; nausea and headaches. Ozone can also trigger asthma attacks, permanently damaging a person’s lungs. Many people are sensitive to ozone, especially while being active outdoors. Children, senior citizens, those working or playing outdoors, and people with respiratory disease are at a higher risk from ozone exposure.

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