As part of statewide efforts encouraging people to make changes that help improve air quality, the Utah Transit Authority is offering free rides Friday.

The "Learn to Ride" promotion eliminates fares on TRAX, FrontRunner and buses, but not service to ski resorts.

"We hope that by offering a free Learn to Ride day, new people will try transit, learn that it can work for them and become regular riders," UTA General Manager John Inglish said in a press release. "By riding transit or carpooling just once a week, collectively we can make a difference in regional air quality."

Gov. Gary Herbert, Salt Lake City Mayor Ralph Becker and other mayors have endorsed a "Clean Air Challenge" for people to reduce their driving by walking, carpooling or using mass transit.

The Wasatch Front has suffered several red-air days, in which pollution levels in the air have been high.

For information on UTA routes, go to rideuta.com

-- María Villaseñor