Smog-alert car ban jams metro, buses in Mexico City
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Mexico City residents are packing buses and subway cars, and many are walking or biking to work because authorities have barred millions of vehicles from the streets due to a pollution alert.
New regulations were imposed recently after the capital experienced its worst air-quality crisis in over a decade. A Phase 1 alert was declared when smog levels hit 1½ times acceptable limits Tuesday.
Pollution levels on Wednesday are down somewhat, but a dense haze is obscuring the volcanic mountains that ring the city.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Martin Gutierrez is executive coordinator for the Environmental Commission of the Megalopolis. He says the alert will remain in place until at least 5 p.m. Wednesday.