Third Annual National Dump the Pump Day to Be Held June 19

As gas prices began their escalation a few years ago, the American Public Transportation Association (APTA), Washington, D.C., initiated a national "dump the pump" day. The third annual dump the pump day is scheduled for June 19, 2008.

APTA is asking people across the country to ride public transportation. Over 100 public transportation systems have already signed on to participate in the event.

According to APTA, the 2008 National Dump the Pump Day is a public awareness day that emphasizes how public transportation is the quickest way to beat high gas prices and it encourages people to ride a bus or train instead of driving a car. This national day also highlights public transportation as an important travel option that helps combat climate change.

Many of the participating transit systems are holding public events with drawings for free transit passes and other prizes, while other systems are offering free or reduced rides, doing radio promotions, and providing "transit ambassadors" to help new riders.

This national event comes on the heels of APTA's announcement that Americans took 2.6 billion trips on public transportation in the first three months of 2008 - almost 85 million more trips than the same time period of last year.

"There's no doubt that the high gas prices are motivating people to change their travel behavior," said APTA president William W. Millar. "More and more people have decided that taking public transportation is the quickest way to beat the high gas prices." (source: June 2 APTA Press Release. www.apta.com)

APTA reports that all modes of public transportation have shown increased ridership in 2008. Light rail leads the way with a 10.3 increase while commuter rail, heavy rail and bus have all shown increased passenger counts.

APTA is an organization acting on behalf of the transportation industry, and has done so since 1882. According the associations Web site, "APTA members serve the public interest by providing safe, efficient and economical transit services, and by improving those services to meet national energy, environmental, and financial concerns. Over ninety percent of passengers using transit in the U.S. and Canada are carried by APTA members."

For more information on APTA and the National Dump the Pump Day contact APTA at www.apta.com or contact your local transit authority for dump the pump events.