Headline: Sofia Implements Green Ticket to Curb Winter Smog; Nearly 40,000 Passengers Adopt Public Transport
In a bid to mitigate Sofia’s notorious winter smog issue, the city implemented a green ticket on Thursday, January 7, when harmful PM10 particles were within normal limits. The move, which was preventive and extended into Friday, encouraged residents to opt for public transport instead of driving. Around 40,000 passengers bought green tickets by 12 PM on Thursday.
The green ticket, costing an additional 0.60 BGN (around 0.32 EUR) to the regular fare of 1.60 BGN, was aimed at reducing traffic congestion and lowering pollution levels. However, many passengers found themselves paying the regular fare with their cards, despite the green ticket being in effect. The city’s Center for Urban Mobility clarified that existing 30+ or 60+ tickets would not be converted automatically to green tickets; passengers needed to purchase them separately.
Citizens and experts alike queried why the green ticket wasn’t introduced earlier, during the thick smog on Wednesday. According to updated rules, the green ticket is enforced when PM10 levels reach or are forecasted to exceed 100 μg/m³, measured at two stations. On January 7, stations in "Надежда," "Дружба," "Хиподрума," "Павлово," "Младост," and on "Париж" Street all exceeded this threshold, indicating that a green ticket should have been implemented on Thursday as well.
From January 7 onwards, mechanical street cleaning with heavy-duty public transport vehicles began in several districts, including "Средец," "Оборище," "Връбница," "Младост," "Възраждане," "Красно село," "Искър," and "Изгрев."
Sofia’s struggle with polluted air during winter is well-established, with geographical factors and urban development contributing to the issue. Bearing 55.97% of the blame, residential heating with solid fuels is identified as the primary culprit. To combat this, the city implemented a ban on wood and coal heating in nine districts as of January 1, affecting around 1,600 households. As an alternative, the municipality offers free replacement of old stoves with new, cleaner devices, with nearly 5,000 households expressing interest.
Enforcement of the heating ban is carried out by mobile teams from the Sofia Municipal Inspection and the Municipal Directorate for Emergency Assistance and Prevention. From January 1 to 7, 213 checks were performed, resulting in 70 inspections and 57 acts issued against violators. Additionally, old and polluting vehicles are barred from entering the city center between December 1 and February’s end. Since the implementation of the low-emission zone, the number of violators has halved, with around 2,000 vehicles entering daily, compared to the initial 20,000 detected by traffic cameras.
