It hasn’t exactly been hot for the last few days, but the Northern Virginia Transportation Commission wants to remind you that the dog days of summer will soon be upon us, and with them, a number of Code Red air quality days that will prompt the agency to provide free rides on Northern Virginia bus routes. So on Wednesday, April 30, all bus routes in Northern Virginia, including Metrobus, Arlington Transit, Fairfax Connector, Loudoun County Transit, the DASH bus, Virginia Regional Transit, the Falls Church GEORGE, and PRTC will offer free rides all day to get the area reacquainted with the need to take advantage of bus routes when it’s most important.

The Code Red free bus days are designed to encourage suburban commuters to ditch their cars when ozone levels are high and air quality is especially bad. Both Northern Virginia and suburban Maryland bus systems will provide free rides on Code Red days.

A few special events will also take place from 6 to 10 a.m. on Wednesday at specified commuter locations that are listed here. You can find out more information about the free bus air quality program at the Clean Air Partners web site.

Photo by AlbinoFlea