The American Public Transportation Association (APTA) and its members are inviting transit riders and the public to join them in two activities that address the long and short term impact of the Gulf Coast oil spill crisis: Ride public transit to reduce the nation’s oil consumption and donate to the Natural Resources Defense Council‘s (NRDC) Gulf Coast Recovery Fund. 

With efforts continuing to stop the flow of oil into the Gulf of Mexico, regional wildlife and ecosystems have been devastated. The public transportation industry is encouraging its riders, the public and its employees to make a $10 donation to the NRDC Gulf Coast Recovery Fund by texting TRANSIT on their mobile phones to 25383. 

Public transportation use saves the equivalent of 900,000 automobile fill-ups every day. Transit saves the U.S. the equivalent of 4.2 billion gallons of gasoline annually, according to APTA. 

“This crisis reminds us that it is time to take significant steps toward reducing our oil consumption and riding transit is a simple way to do it,” said APTA President William Millar. “As an industry we are asking that individuals take that first step, and try transit, but also join us in making a monetary contribution to help clean up this disaster.”

All money raised will go directly to the NRDC Gulf Coast Recovery Fund.