Abstract
All of us wish to breathe clean air. In recent years, a problem of growing importance is how to combat particulates which cause smog and are harmful to the human environment. International forums have adopted documents to prevent carpet emissions. As a result, public authorities in individual states have to tackle the tough challenge of implementing new regulations via their legal framework and administrative practice. The slogans “Clean Air” and “Right to Clean Air” trigger off grassroots movements which strive to coax the units of local government to take decisive action on a pro-ecological transport policy. While mindful of the influence of polluted air on human health, local interest groups have social control of authorities. The objectives of the article are to present the legal framework for the ‘smog alert’ and free public transport initiatives, and to analyse how local authorities have implemented free public transport, whether for all a city’s residents or just for the drivers who decide to forgo driving and have to show valid vehicle registration certificates to use public transport for free. The paper draws upon interviews and a critical review of substantive literature about the techniques for reducing smog. A scientific approach is adopted to the major body of work. Additionally, the analysis compares the pro-ecological activities of local governments in selected Polish cities. It focuses directly on the subjects managing public transport and the operators offering transport services.