Monday: Last day for free SF commutes

Commuters Monday enjoyed their last chance this year to use public transportation without charge in a nine-county San Francisco area.

Every transit agency, except the Benicia-San Francisco Ferry, participates in the "Spare the Air" program that's designed to encourage commuters to avoid using their cars or participating in other pollution-causing activities, The San Francisco Chronicle reported.

But with several days of poor air quality, the budget for the free commuting has been exhausted, said Jack Colbourn, outreach director for the Bay Area Air Quality Management District.

Colbourn said there's a chance federal authorities might fund more free commutes but he told the Chronicle he hopes even without economic incentives, commuters will use public transportation to avoid air pollution.

Copyright 2006 by United Press International