Free Bus Day Passes On High Air Pollution Day Well Received

Offering a free day pass on Reyjavík area public transit yesterday, due to high levels of air pollution, was reportedly well received.

MBL reports that use of the public transit Strætó app increased by 33% yesterday, with some 16,000 people using the app on that day alone. The daily average is normally about 12,000 people.

5,140 of these people made use of the free day pass that appeared on the app yesterday, with some 1,846 using the app for the first time.

As reported, the idea behind the feature is to offer Strætó app users a free day pass to use the bus on so-called “grey days”, when the levels of air pollution in the city are exceptionally high.

Air pollution has been a pervasive problem in Reykjavík, with multiple warnings issued every year advising residents to stay indoors on these “grey days”, especially children, the elderly, and those with respiratory conditions. Health officials have repeatedly pointed out that one of the best ways to reduce these emissions is to get more people to use public transit.

With yesterday’s success, it is likely the feature will continue for the foreseeable future.