Thursday marks the Seventh annual Dump the Pump Day, where individuals are urged to leave their vehicles at home, save gas and use public transportation. More than 100 transit agencies across the nation will observe the day with promotions, rallies, giveaways and other activities.
Since 1995, public transportation ridership has grown by nearly 22 percent, faster than highway or air travel. Over 60 billion trips are taken annually on public transportation.
Here are some public transportation facts:
— Nearly 43 percent of America’s energy resources are used in transportation. Approximately 65 billion gallons of gas are used every year on personal vehicles alone. Using public transportation can significantly reduce our country’s dependency on the gas pump. It’s been calculated that if all Americans used public transportation for just 10 percent of their daily travel needs, the U.S. could reduce its dependence on imported oil by more than 40 percent, nearly the amount imported from Saudi Arabia each year.
— Of the 19 percent the average household spends on transportation, 94 percent of that is for buying, maintaining and operating vehicles. This amount continues to grow with the march upward of gas prices.
— Each seat filled on public transportation is one less vehicle on the road. A full 60-passenger bus eliminates the equivalent of two lanes of traffic three blocks in length. Without public transportation, traffic delays could increase as much as 32 percent.
— Use of public transportation produces 95 percent less carbon monoxide, 92 percent less volatile organic compounds and nearly 50 percent less carbon dioxide and nitrogen oxide per passenger mile as compared to private vehicles.
— According to the National Safety Council’s “Injury Facts” riding a transit bus is 79 times safer than car travel.