LAVAL, QC — The Société de transport de Laval (STL) set in motion a smog alert response last Saturday, which lasted for three days. The operation went very well, according to the STL. A fare reduction — down to only $1 per person — prompted more than 4,400 more transit users to opt for public transit, up five per cent over the average number of trips during this time of the year. Nearly 24,000 riders took advantage of the special $1 fare during those three days. STL has made a commitment to donate the proceeds of the first 5,000 trips to Equiterre.
   
This special reduced fare is offered the day after a smog warning issued by Environment Canada, which hadn't yet made such an announcement this summer.
   
The STL expects that the number of riders who will take advantage of the discount will increase if there are more alerts this summer.

Of all the policies I've seen so far regarding smog alert responses, this certainly has a lot of appeal. Could bigger cities gain by reducing fares in a similar manner on smog alert days? Cities like Toronto could certainly use some ideas. If any readers have heard of other types of responses to smog alerts, let me know by commenting below.

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