Paris makes public transport free to tackle severe pollution

Mar 15 Rawstory.com

Paris authorities said Thursday they would make public transport free for three days to encourage drivers to leave their vehicles behind due to severe pollution caused by unusually warm weather and lack of wind.

The French capital has been under maximum pollution alert for several days, as have many other regions in the country. The air pollution has also affected other nearby countries, including Belgium where authorities have reduced the maximum speed allowed on main roads in a bid to reduce the strong concentration of polluting particles in the atmosphere.

Jean-Paul Huchon, head of the organisation that oversees transport in Paris and neighbouring areas, said transport would be free from Friday morning to Sunday evening due to the “significant risks to the health of residents” posed by the pollution.“I am asking all residents in Paris and neighbouring areas to favour the use of public transport,” he said.