Metro Bus and Rail teamed up with Tobacco-Free Erie-Niagara for national Kick Butts Day, the country’s on-going effort to reduce smoking. The day puts a spotlight on the problem and Metro took the opportunity to announce new initiatives.

Smoking on Metro property is, of course, illegal. Because of the hazards of secondhand smoke, no smoking is allowed within 20 feet of a bus shelter or stops. Metro has now greatly increased the number of warning signs because, as NFTA Transit Police Chief George Gast said, “We’re getting tough on smoking. Warnings are going to become citations.”

The stronger position has some solid support. Erie County Commissioner of Health Gale R. Burstein, MD, MPH, FAAP was on hand to give Metro a round of applause. As were representatives from Roswell Park. “It’s our responsibility to do everything we can to make sure community settings like bus and rail stops are free from secondhand smoke,” said Mark Travers, PhD, Research Scientist at Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center. “I applaud the NFTA.”