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More than 120 U.S. public transportation agencies, state transit associations, and vendors highlighted the environmental, economic, and energy saving benefits of using transit during the fifth annual National Dump the Pump Day, June 17. APTA sponsored the observance, joined this year by the Natural Resources Defense Council and the Sierra Club.

The ongoing BP oil spill crisis in the Gulf of Mexico brings home the importance of conserving fuel and finding alternatives to the single-occupant vehicle, according to APTA.

Here is a representative sample of Dump the Pump activities.

Jason Parkinson, a disc jockey in Peoria, IL, broadcast his three-hour radio show—using an iPad—the afternoon of June 17 while on board a moving CityLink bus. “I really wanted to do something different and unique to support the idea of saving money on transportation, so taking my entire show to the back of a moving bus just made sense. It will be my first time using public transportation and I really hope others will give it a try too,” Parkinson said.

Metro in St. Louis and its partners hosted special events at the Civic Center MetroLink Station & MetroBus Transfer Center and other sites. Metro employees greeted and thanked customers for using transit, then distributed Dump the Pump stickers, transit information, and entry forms for a special giveaway of prizes including 10-ride ticket booklets, bicycle helmets, T-shirts, and other promotional items.

“We hope people who observe Dump the Pump Day by using Metro Transit will see how convenient and affordable it is and decide to choose us on a regular basis,” said Metro President and Chief Executive Officer Bob Baer. “Dump the Pump Day is the perfect opportunity to find out how beneficial transit can be to take to work, to a Cardinals game, to Fair St. Louis, or to many other events and destinations.”

In Columbus, OH, the Central Ohio Transit Authority joined the Young Professionals of Columbus to launch the YPCOTA Bus Challenge 2010. The partners are using Facebook and Twitter to tell their story about this competition to see who can make the most trips on public transit during that period. The program, featuring meet-ups, a bus scavenger hunt, and other activities, concludes July 15.

The Greensboro Transit Authority (GTA) in Greensboro, NC, invited members of the public to “Heckle the Pump” by submitting their best (family-friendly) jokes about the gas pump, fuel prices, or the automobile. The grand prize was a “Fuel-free Weekend,” including admission to a comedy club, dinner at a restaurant, admission to the North Carolina Zoo, and transit passes to each of these destinations. GTA also may post the winning joke on several buses in the fleet later this summer.

DRI Corporation released a statement in support of Dump the Pump Day, using APTA figures to promote the financial and societal benefits of public transportation. David L. Turney, the company’s chairman of the board and chief executive officer, said: “National Dump the Pump Day ties in well with the company’s noted transit market drivers, including the demand for better mobility and less gridlock, the drive for lower energy consumption, and the need to reduce greenhouse gases.”

Elected officials and representatives of radio stations and fast food restaurants joined the South Florida Regional Transportation Authority in Pompano Beach, operators of Tri-Rail commuter rail, to greet Tri-Rail passengers the afternoon of June 17 at the Boca Raton Station and present them with giveaways.

The Potomac and Rappahannock Transportation Commission in Woodbridge, VA, promoted Dump the Pump with a “Tell a Friend” poster campaign, information on the web site, and a promotional notice to participants in its e-mail subscription service.

King County Metro Transit in Seattle hosted customer appreciation activities, including donated refreshments, during the morning commute June 17 at three transit centers.

The Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Capital Metro) in Austin, TX, invited members of its community to become “Ozone Action Heroes” by riding its buses and Capital MetroRail on Dump the Pump Day. Coupons for free rides that day appeared in local newspapers and on the agency’s web site. Capital Metro also promoted the Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization’s “Hero Chronicles” video contest: first prize is a bicycle and second prize is six months of transit passes.

The Corpus Christi Regional Transportation Authority in Corpus Christi, TX, provided complimentary “Try Transit—Dump the Pump” bus passes to area employers for use on any authority service—fixed, express, or park-and-ride—between June 14 and 20.

The Riverside Transit Agency (RTA) in Riverside, CA, hosted a drawing for free bus passes, open to people who used a day pass, 7-day pass, or 30-day pass on Dump the Pump Day. RTA accepted validated passes by mail until June 30 for a free day pass or 30-day pass.

Working in house, the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Authority’s Marketing Department created a special interior car card to promote Dump the Pump Day.

Kansas Gov. Mark Parkinson issued a proclamation recognizing Dump the Pump Day in the state and the Kansas Public Transit Association for its support of public transportation “for a cleaner environment, energy independence, and for a better quality of life.”

Dump the Pump, Add to Ridership
Several public transit agencies reported increased ridership on Dump the Pump Day.

In Springfield, MO, City Utilities reported 7,005 rides on Dump the Pump Day, compared with 4,567 rides the day before and 4,589 rides the day after—a one-day increase of slightly more than 50 percent.

Metro Regional Transit Authority in Akron, OH, operated fare free on June 17 and reported a 42 percent jump in ridership on that day.

The Centre Area Transportation Authority in State College, PA, offered free Dump the Pump Day rides and saw the day’s ridership increase about 23 percent, or about 2,000 passenger trips more than a regular Thursday last year and recent summer Thursdays.

For the third consecutive year, the Blue Water Area Transportation Commission in Port Huron, MI, invited passengers to ride free for Dump the Pump Day. It reported 4,763 rides on June 17, 21 percent (830 rides) more than the previous week.

Dump the Pump Day ridership in Peoria, IL, increased by 1,080 over last year, according to the Greater Peoria Mass Transit District (CityLink).

Rebekah Huang, a summer intern in Caltrain’s Office of Public Affairs, helped pass out reusable bags at the San Francisco Caltrain Station to call attention to National Dump the Pump Day June 17. The arch of black balloons represents the 27,000 gallons of fuel Caltrain riders save every day.	Peoria radio employees Jason Parkinson, left, and Jay Williams set up a live Dump the Pump Day broadcast from the back of a CityLink bus. Members of the agency’s marketing staff were also on board

Florida state Rep. Kelly Skidmore presents SFRTA Executive Director Joe Giulietti with a copy of the state House’s proclamation declaring June 17 National Dump the Pump Day.

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