“Dump the Pump” and Use Public Transit Instead

June 17 is the fifth annual Dump the Pump Day, in which people nationwide are being encouraged to use public transportation instead of driving cars. Dump the Pump Day , first celebrated in 2006, is sponsored by the American Public Transportation Association (APTA), an EESI partner. Public transit systems across the nation are promoting the day, including the system in EESI’s hometown, Washington, DC. The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority has added fun to the day by holding a contest to guess how many riders it will have that day; winners receive a transportation pass valued at $100. Riders are also be able to ride the Circulator bus in downtown Washington, DC for free.

APTA notes public transportation saves the United States the equivalent of 4.2 billion gallons of gasoline annually — more than three times the amount of refined oil imported from Kuwait. This year, with concern about oil dependence rising in Congress and across the nation due to the oil blowout disaster in the Gulf of Mexico, the importance of public transit is more important than ever. Using transit can help a family reduce its environmental impact and save money as well — APTA estimates that households that have only one car and use public transit save an average of about $9,000 yearly compared to those with two.