More than 140 public transit systems and organizations are celebrating the 11th annual National Dump the Pump Day on June 16. Sponsored by the American Public Transportation Association (APTA), this national public awareness day encourages people to “Dump the Pump” by parking their car and riding a bus or train instead. The tag line is: "Dump the Pump. Ride Transit."

“Public transportation is vitally important for communities of all sizes and their residents,” said Valarie J. McCall, APTA Chair and board member of the Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority. “Organizations participating in National Dump the Pump Day are encouraging people to try public transit instead of driving on June 16. Some public transit systems are offering free rides or contests for riders as a way to persuade individuals to change their travel behavior.”

APTA first started National Dump the Pump Day in June 2006 when gas prices reached $3 per gallon and the public demand for public transportation was growing in response to the high gas prices. According to the June 9, 2016 Transit Savings Report, on the average, an individual in a two-person household can save nearly $9,500 a year when he or she downsizes by one car and takes public transit instead.

“National Dump the Pump Day participants highlight the many benefits that public transportation provides to individuals and their communities,” said Richard A. White, APTA Acting President/CEO. “Besides individual financial savings, public transportation is a catalyst for economic growth. It also contributes to a better environment and the reduction of our nation’s energy consumption.”

From urban to suburban to rural communities, public transportation is a cornerstone of our nation’s economy and local economies. Every dollar invested in public transportation returns four dollars in economic benefits to the community. Additionally, public transportation is an essential factor in creating an economically competitive community that attract new companies, offering new job opportunities to residents.

Public transportation also offers important environmental and energy benefits for communities and for the country. Every year U.S. public transportation use saves 37 million metric tons of carbon emissions and 4.2 billion gallons of gasoline.

Public transportation systems will be promoting National Dump the Pump Day in a variety of ways and the number of participants is growing. Some public transit systems are offering free and discounted rides to make it easy for people to try public transportation. Several public transit systems are advertising through print and radio and numerous transit systems are promoting it on social media, including the twitter hashtags #dumpthepump, #dump the pump, or #dumpthepump2016. Below are some examples of other ways public transportation systems are celebrating National Dump the Pump Day, including contests with riders.

•    Photo Contests With Dump the Pump Selfies:  
Several public transit systems across the country are holding photo contests in which people send in photos of themselves “Dumping the Pump” as they ride on buses and trains. Some of the systems holding photo contests are as follows: Capital District Transportation Authority (Albany, N.Y.); Longview Transit (Longview, Texas); Metro Transit (Madison, Wis.); Northern Arizona Intergovernmental Public Transportation Authority (Flagstaff, Ariz.); Indianapolis Public Transportation Corp., Port Authority of Allegheny County (Pittsburgh), Rhode Island Public Transit Authority (Providence, R.I.), and Santa Clarita Transit (Santa Clarita, Calif.). The Regional Transportation Authority is coordinating Dump the Pump selfie contests for the Chicago Transit Authority, Pace and Metra (Chicago).

•    Tell Your Transit Story and Maybe Win a Prize:
Red Rose Transit (Lancaster, Pa.) and Berks Area Regional Transportation Authority (Reading, Pa.) are encouraging riders to tell their stories on how they have “Dumped the Pump” and experienced the benefits of public transit. Entries will be placed into a random drawing for prizes.

•    Make a Pledge to Ride Public Transit:
Customers of Cincinnati Metro are being asked to take a pledge to ride Metro on June 16.  In return, they can receive a free Day Pass for Dump the Pump Day. Santa Clarita Transit is inviting residents to “Dump the Pump” and take public transportation on June 16. By making the pledge, residents will be entered into a raffle for a variety of prizes.

•    Launching a New Bus Route:
Metro (Portland, Maine) is launching its newest route, METRO BREEZ, and expanding its coverage from Portland to Freeport, where L.L. Bean’s headquarters is located.  

•    Promoting a “Dump the Pump” Summer Campaign:
Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority (Cleveland) is celebrating “Dump the Pump” all summer by encouraging current customers and new riders to use public transportation to attend many community events that it is co-sponsoring.

Click on the following links to see the public transit systems and public and private organizations​​ that are participating in National Dump the Pump Day on June 16.