Dump the Pump today

[marmar]

Help Spread the Word About the Many Benefits of Public Transportation
on National Dump the Pump Day

Thursday, June 20, 2013


The 8th annual National Dump the Pump Day on June 20 is a day to highlight that when gas prices are high, using public transportation is a great alternative to driving that will help people save money.

We know what happens when gas prices are high. Many people park their cars and take public transportation instead. In fact, using public transportation is an economical way to beat high gas prices…if it is available. According to APTA’s most recent Transit Saving Report, a two-person household can save, on the average, more than $9,700 a year by downsizing to one car.

At a time when our economy is still hurting and gas prices are continuing to rise, people need to save money. This is a time to increase public transportation service, not decrease it. However, Congress has yet to pass a long overdue surface transportation bill that will increase public transportation investment. State and local revenues that fund public transportation have declined since the economic recession started and that has also negatively impacted public transit systems’ budgets. All levels of government – federal, state, and local – should invest more in public transportation.

From urban to suburban to rural communities, public transportation is a vital resource to Americans, and a cornerstone of our nation’s economy. Relying on public transit for their daily mobility needs, Americans use local public transportation systems to commute to and from work, to travel to school and the doctor’s office, to go shopping, and to visit with family and friends. Public transportation use reduces our nation’s dependence on foreign oil by 4.2 billion gallons of gasoline a year and it also saves 37 million metric tons of carbon emissions annually. Last, but not least, public transportation has a proven track record of reducing congestion. The latest research shows that in 2011, U.S. public transportation use saved 796 million hours in travel time, 450 million gallons of fuel, and $21 billion in congestion costs in 498 urban areas.

Quick Facts

* In 2012, Americans took 10.5 billion trips on public transportation.
* 35 million times each weekday, people board public transportation.
* Public transportation is a $57 billion industry that employs more than 400,000 people.
* More than 7,300 organizations provide public transportation in the United States.

Public Transportation Helps People Save Money

* Using public transportation is the quickest way to beat high gas prices.
* According to APTA’s Transit Saving Report, a two-person household can save, on the average, more than $9,700 a year by downsizing to one car.
* Public transportation provides an affordable, and for many, necessary, alternative to driving.

Public Transportation Provides Economic Opportunities

* Every $1 billion invested in public transportation creates and supports 36,000 jobs.
* Every $1 invested in public transportation generates approximately $4 in economic returns.
* Every $10 million in capital investment in public transportation yields $30 million in increased business sales.
* Every $10 million in operating investment yields $32 million in increased business sales.

.................(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.apta.com/members/memberprogramsandservices/advocacyandoutreachtools/dumpthepump/Pages/TransitFacts.aspx

[Rod Walker]

1. I have a 35 mile commute, which usually takes about 50 minutes.

Using the only public transportation available (the bus) would add at least an hour each way (I checked the schedule).

Simply not practical. I'll stick to driving.

[hobbit709]

2. That's assuming you have halfway decent public transportation.

Here in Austin, the bus system sucks except for a lucky few. Any transfer point you use, the bus you're on gets there two minutes after the bus you need to catch leaves.

[One_Life_To_Give]

3. On a spoke and hub system

getting from one spoke to another can be a real PITA. And not sure how applicable to rural area's it will ever be.

[Ron Green]

4. Wow, no rec's and 3 whines

for a topic that's got to be part of any sort of future we might be trying to build.

[HappyMe]

5. I don't think that pointing out

that a person doesn't have reliable bus service in their area is whining.
People in rural areas have no choice but to drive.

[Rod Walker]

6. A realisic description of my transportation options is "whining"?

Who knew?

[Egalitarian Thug]

7. When I lived in Portland, driving in to the office took 40 - 75 minutes and $6.50 to park.

Taking the MAX cost $35 a month and took 22 minutes. Needless to say, my car sat in the garage nearly all the time and I averaged a bit over 4,000 miles a year.

But we mustn't waste money building economical, effective mass transit.

[tabbycat31]

8. I'm not arguing against public transportation

In fact I think that it needs to be expanded, especially given an aging population of Boomers.

However, it's not very reliable in a lot of areas of the country aside from major cities. I wish my area had better public transportaiton.