Dump the Pump
Monday, May 21, 2007 3:30 PM
In 31 days, it will officially be summertime…when the livin’ is easy and the cotton is high - and here in Houston, the start of dog days when temperatures soar to triple digits and people start planning road trips.
June 21 is also a day you can help the environment and save on fuel costs by joining in National Dump the Pump Day. The American Public Transportation Association (APTA), the professional organization that advances public transportation, is urging transit agencies nationwide to encourage residents to go green by taking mass transit.
Last year, more Americans rode public transportation than in the past 49 years – 10.1 billion trips. Every week day, passengers board public transit 34 million times a day nationwide. And from 1995 through 2006, public transportation ridership grew by 30 percent – a growth rate higher than the 12 percent hike in U.S. population.
So what difference can one person riding a bus or train make?
Collectively, one person at a time, we can make a difference. Consider these factoids by APTA:
- Public transportation use in the U.S. saves 1.4 billion gallons of gasoline every year. That’s almost 4 million gallons of gas a day.
- Public transit saves the equivalent of 34 supertankers of oil every year, or the equivalent of a supertanker leaving the Middle East every 11 days.
- Households that use mass transit save more than $1,399 worth of gas annually.
And we’re all aware that public transportation helps cut pollution and keeps our air cleaner.
So do your part – not just on June 21 – but whenever you have a choice, ride the bus or train. And spread the word.