Sofia hosts a car-free day to fight air pollution

November 16 is a day for cleaner air in Sofia. The aim is for people to realise that we are all part of the change for cleaner environment for living. Municipal officials do not use their personal and business cars. The government administrations, private companies and schools also joined the initiative.

The children from the 38th Primary School "Vasil Aprilov" took part in the day for cleaner air by planting several trees. The Mayor of Sofia, Yordanka Fandakova, attended the event. She urged the officials to choose an alternative to car transport.

Eng. Veska Georgieva, Director of the Inspectorate, Sofia Municpality: I walked to work, bu not just today. Today I followed the mayor's order, and I consider that we, as a unit of the municipal administration should respect the car-free day.

For the first time, officials from the state institutions participate in an initiative dedicated to the Day for Cleaner Air.

Many companies also joined in the initiative.

Plamen Tsekov, CEO of an IT Company: It definitely took me longer to get to work, but it was not as busy as when we had to drive and get stuck. The idea of joining this initiative was easilily accepted by colleagues, because everyone sees the air quality ... Even If we bring a drop in air pollution by one tiny particle, it is still worth having such an initiative, it is really great.

The car-free day idea comes from the UK. That is why, today, all initiatives took place under the patronage of the British Embassy in Bulgaria. Asked whether a green ticket will be introduced more frequently in the capital, mayor Fandakova said that the air quality indicators are being monitored and, when exceeded, the municipality will release it. The Green Ticket makes public transport in the capital free of charge on days with an excessive level of fine particulate matter in the air.