National Group Says 'Dump the Pump'
As gas prices increase, public transportation systems seeing increases in ridership.
A national organization is asking communities to "dump the pump" Thursday and use whatever public transportation is available. More than 100 transit systems are joining the American Public Transportation Association's sixth annual Dump the Pump Day, APTA spokeswoman Virginia Miller said. The first Dump the Pump Day was in June 2006, after gas prices hit more than $3, she said. "The great thing about this initiative is that while gas prices went down (after 2006), ridership didn't, as if people had changed," Miller said. The national average for unleaded gasoline has steadily decreased from $3.961 on May 15, to $3.6893 June 15, according to the AAA Mid-Atlantic Public & Government Affairs. While gas prices have decreased, they are still $1.…
sohini
8:00 am on Thursday, June 16, 2011
It's a great idea - in theory. I live on Wolftrap Road. But to get to the metro, I'd have to cross the street - several blocks down with kids in tow. And unless the bus schedule has changed, it only works during rush hour, which makes it pretty useless for anyone who's looking to commute to work with any possibility of working late. I'd love to drive less. But unless there's public transportation… more ›