Code Red Ozone Alert

[WMATAGMOAGH]

Maybe because the inner city can't stand an increase of ridership?

They don't have the funds to reimburse WMATA and MWCOG for the free rides, and therefore do not participate.  Even on Code Red Days, the operators press a button on the farebox to count rides, and that determines how much gets paid.  It is a problem that DC can't be involved, since those areas suffer from ozone pollution the most and would benefit from free rides.

[Tristan]

That's true -- to cover every rider in DC would be an immense cost.  Someone do the calculations based on the NORMAL ridership per day and THEN add about 7%...that's about how much DASH ridership increases on free ride days, although we have more discretionary riders than DC does.

[WayneNYC]

I think if they gave free Metrorail rides that would really get a lot more people out of their cars on these days, but I imagine that cost would be out of this world too as Metrorail fares are pretty expensive.  It's great that free bus rides are offered on code red days in the 'burbs although I still feel DC area bus fares are a nice bargain.