Lafayette Mayor Tony Roswarski and West Lafayette Mayor John Dennis have proclaimed
June 19 “Dump the Pump” Day in the two cities.
“We’re citing the high price of gas as just one reason to consider CityBus for regular commutes,” said General Manager Martin Sennett. “There are many more benefits—less traffic congestion, better air quality because greenhouse gases are reduced, and the convenience of having someone else drive. Using public transportation is an easy and significant way to reduce fuel consumption, save on spending and help the environment.”
“By experiencing the ease of riding, we believe many commuters will realize what a benefit public transportation is to our community and world and make the decision to become everyday riders,” said John Metzinger, manager of development.
“Dump the Pump” is a nationwide campaign coordinated by the American Public Transportation Association. Many cities across the U.S. are participating by offering free rides.
CityBus operates a fleet of 73, including four hybrid busses. It logged nearly 4.7 million passenger trips in 2007, including more than 340,000 on the free downtown/Purdue trolley. Its mission is to be a proactive community partner, striving to improve the community’s quality of life by operating safe, reliable and environmentally friendly transit services, by partnering in local economic development activities, and by providing excellent customer service and efficient, convenient access to destinations throughout Lafayette and West Lafayette.
Public transportation facts
...from CityBus and the American Public Transportation Association
Public Transportation Ridership
- In 2007, Americans took 10.3 billion trips on public transportation - the highest ridership level in 50 years. CityBus set a record at 4.7 million passenger trips.
- 34 million times each weekday, people board public transportation.
- Since 1995 public transportation ridership is up 32 percent.
Energy Conservation
- Each year, public transportation use in the U.S. saves 1.4 billion gallons of gasoline. This represents almost 4 million gallons of gasoline per day.
- The “leverage effect” of public transportation, supporting transportation-efficient land use patterns, saves 4.2 billion gallons of gasoline – more than three times the amount of gasoline refined from the oil we import from Kuwait.
- Public transportation use saves the equivalent of 300,000 fewer automobile fill-ups every day - 108 million fewer cars filling up annually.
- Each year, public transportation use saves the equivalent of 34 supertankers of oil, or a supertanker leaving the Middle East every 11 days.
Individual Cost Savings
- Public transportation provides an affordable, and for many, necessary alternative to driving.
- Each year public transportation households save over $1,399 worth of gas.
- Transit availability can reduce the need for an additional car, a yearly expense of $6,251 in a household budget.
- The average household spends 18 cents per dollar on transportation, and 94 percent of this goes to buying, maintaining and operating cars.
- Americans living in areas served by public transportation save $18 billion annually in congestion costs.
Public Transportation Reduces Greenhouse Gases and Conserves Energy
- The “leverage effect” of public transportation reduces the nation’s carbon emissions by 37 million metric tons annually– equivalent to the electricity used by 4.9 million households. To achieve similar reduction in carbon emissions, every household in New York City, Washington, D.C., Atlanta, Denver and Los Angeles combined would have to completely stop using electricity.
- People living in households within one-quarter mile of rail and one-tenth of a mile from a bus stop drive approximately 4,400 fewer miles annually as compared to persons in similar households with no access to public transit. This equates to an individual household reduction of 223 gallons of gasoline a year.
For more facts and figures visit: http://www.publictransportation.org.
