Check out this press release from Valley Metro. We are all being asked to Dump the Pump on June 16th. Check out this interesting transportation info from the APTA and then read the release below.
Arizonans asked to Dump the Pump on June 16 Save Money. Ride Transit. Phoenix, AZ (June 9, 2011)
If fuel costs have taken over your budget, then it’s time to take a vacation from high gas prices. On June 16, Arizonans are being asked to participate in the National Dump the Pump Day. Sponsored by the American Public Transportation Association (APTA), the sixth annual event encourages people to reduce trips to help save the pain at the pump.
“Dump the Pump AZ is a perfect reason to try riding the bus or light rail, or even finding a carpool partner,” said Tempe Councilmember and Valley Metro Chair Shana Ellis, who drives a Toyota Prius for work, public office duties and family commitments. “We hope residents will find there are smarter ways to travel, which also will provide a payback in both finances and air quality.
”Transit agencies in many Arizona cities including Yuma, Sierra Vista, Kingman, Tucson, Flagstaff, and metro Phoenix will be participating in Dump the Pump AZ hoping for a significant dip in the consumption of fuel on June 16. Local city and regional transit agencies, as well as the Arizona Transit Association (AzTA), believes that the initiative will help Arizonans choose more efficient travel alternatives.
"If we can get a person to try transit, he or she will better recognize its value and continue using it in the future,” said METRO CEO Steve Banta. “Events like these help eliminate the hesitation around riding public transportation – it is, in fact, easy to use and an affordable way to travel about the region.
”According to the latest APTA Transit Savings Report (www.apta.com), individuals in a two-person household can save an average of $834.00 per month when taking public transportation and living with one less car.
“As more and more Americans look for ways to save money at the gas pump, the choice to switch transportation is a smart decision,” said APTA president William Millar. “Switching from driving to riding public transportation is a proven way for individuals to cut monthly and yearly transportation costs.
Valley Metro offers the following tips to help you Dump the Pump on June 16:
1. Go online at www.valleymetro.org and visit the transit trip planner or Google Transit to plan a bus or light rail trip
2. Find a carpool partner at the Share the Ride section on www.valleymetro.org
3. Ask your boss if you can work from home that day.
4. Calculate your fuel savings using an online calculator or find gas-saving commute alternatives by going to www.valleymetro.org.
Social media and texting will be used widely across the nation to support Dump the Pump efforts. To follow on Twitter go to: @ValleyMetroRPTA, @MetroRail, @GoGreenGoPublic, and @iheartransit.
At RailLife.com, we think the national Twitter tag should be #PumpDump. Give it a try!
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