Warmer temperatures are here. The Bay Area Air Quality Management District is encouraging residents to plan ahead and reduce driving to improve air quality. Fewer cars on the road can mean fewer smoggy days, and fewer Spare the Air alerts.

Ground-level ozone, or smog, is the primary air pollutant during the warmer months in the Bay Area. Poor air quality in the Bay Area affects everyone, but there is a higher risk for children, pregnant women, the elderly and those with respiratory problems, such as asthma or bronchitis.

Reducing your driving is the best way to prevent harmful air pollution. Plan now and check out the schedules in your area, so when there’s a Spare the Air Alert, you’re prepared to use public transit. Visit www.511.org or www.bayareacommutetips.org to see routes and plan your trip.

For more information, visit www.sparetheair.org, or follow Spare the Air on Facebook, on Twitter @SpareTheAir, and on Instagram @sparetheair.