Dump The Pump 2012

Help Spread the Word about the Benefits of Public Transportation

Dump the Pump Day – Thursday, June 21, 2012

Dump the Pump Day is a day to highlight that when gas prices are high, using public transportation is a great alternative to driving that will help people save money.

We know what happens when gas prices are high. People park their cars and take public transportation instead. In fact, using public transportation is an economical way to beat high gas prices. According to APTA’s most recent Transit Savings Report, a two-person household can save more than $10,000 a year by downsizing to one car.

From urban to suburban to rural communities, public transportation is a vital resource to Americans, and a cornerstone of our nation’s economy. Relying on transit for their daily mobility needs, Americans use local public transportation systems to commute to and from work, to travel to school and the doctor’s office, to go shopping, and to visit with family and friends.

Here are some reasons why you should Dump the Pump:

Quick Facts

In 2011, Americans took 10.4 billion trips on public transportation.
35 million times each weekday, people board public transportation.
Public transportation is a $55 billion industry that employs more than 400,000 people.

Public Transportation Helps People Save Money

Using public transportation is the quickest way to beat high gas prices.
According to APTA’s Transit Saving Report, a two-person household can save, on the average, more than $10,000 a year by downsizing to one car.
Public transportation provides an affordable, and for many, necessary, alternative to driving.

Public Transportation Provides Economic Opportunities

Every $1 billion invested in public transportation creates and supports 36,000 jobs.
Every $1 invested in public transportation generates approximately $4 in economic returns.
Every $10 million in capital investment in public transportation yields $30 million in increased business sales.
Every $10 million in operating investment yields $32 million in increased business sales.

Public Transportation Saves Fuel and Reduces Congestion

Public transportation has a proven record of reducing congestion.
The latest research shows that in 2010, U.S. public transportation use saved 796 million hours in travel time and 303 million gallons of fuel in 439 urban areas.
Without public transportation, congestion costs in 2010 would have risen by nearly $17 billion from $101 billion to
$118 billion.

Public Transportation Reduces Gasoline Consumption

Public transportation use in the United States saves 4.2 billion gallons of gasoline annually.
Households near public transit drive an average of 4,400 fewer miles than households with no access to public
transit.

Public Transportation Reduces Carbon Footprint

Public transportation use in the United States reduces our nation’s carbon emissions by 37 million metric tons annually. This is equivalent to the emissions resulting from the electricity generated for the use of 4.9 million households or every household in Washington, DC; New York City; Atlanta; Denver; and Los Angeles combined.
A single commuter switching his or her commute to public transportation can reduce a household’s carbon emissions by 10 percent and up to 30 percent if he or she eliminates a second car.

Public Transportation Enhances Personal Opportunities

Public transportation provides personal mobility and freedom for people from every walk of life.
Access to public transportation gives people transportation options to commute to work, go to school, visit friends, or travel to a doctor’s office.
Public transportation provides access to job opportunities for millions of Americans.
83 percent of older Americans acknowledge public transit provides easy access to things they need in everyday life.