Ride the bus for free on Days Forecast to be Code Red
To help improve air quality, many bus systems in the Washington, D.C. area offer free bus rides on days when the air quality forecast is "Code Red."
This program is based on the forecast by the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (MWCOG) for the next day. MWCOG now offers forecasts several days in advance, but the free ride program does not go into effect until a Code Red forecast is issued for the next day. MWCOG's daily forecasts usually become available in the late afternoon.
Metrobus
All Northern Virginia Metrobus routes, including those going into Virginia from D.C., will offer free rides on days forecast to be Code Red. When the forecast is Code Red, you RIDE FREE ALL DAY.
The District of Columbia is not participating in the free ride program, so Metrobus routes operating within the district are not free. Many local bus systems in Maryland are participating in the program.
Northern Virginia Local Bus Systems
Local bus systems in Northern Virginia offer free rides on days forecast to be Code Red. When the forecast is Code Red, you RIDE FREE ALL DAY. Participating bus systems are:
For more information about the Ride Free program in Northern Virginia, visit www.ridefreenova.org.
Maryland Local Bus Systems
Montgomery County Ride On will offer free rides on days forecast to be Code Red.
Where to Find the Air Quality Forecast
During ozone season, the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (MWCOG) provides a daily air quality forecast for the following day. CommuterPage.com posts the forecast on the site's home page (www.CommuterPage.com), and on most other pages in the site. The forecast is also available on MWCOG's web site, and daily recorded forecasts are available from MWCOG at (202) 962-3299.
Note that the free ride program is based on the air quality forecast, not on the actual level of ozone pollution that is reached during the day. On rare occasions, the actual air quality is so bad it reaches Code Purple, but this level of pollution is not included in the forecasts, so it does not affect the free ride program. A report of the actual level of air quality reached each day is included with the forecast on CommuterPage.com and on MWCOG's site.
More Information
See Air Quality and Transportation to learn more.
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