Bismarck, N.D. – With the continued fluctuation of gas prices, Bis-Man Transit and Capital Area Transit announced that it will join other public transportation systems nationwide to participate in the eleventh annual National Dump the Pump Day on Thursday, June 16, 2016. The slogan of this year’s National Dump the Pump Day is “Dump the Pump. Ride Public Transit.”
“Dump the Pump is sort of like Public Transportation’s Independence Day,” said Bis-Man Transit Executive Director Roy Rickert. “It is the day we remember the value that public transportation has, and the freedom it provides for its community or communities.”
Sponsored by the American Public Transportation Association (APTA), the 2016 National Dump the Pump Day is a day that encourages people to ride public transportation and to take them where they need to go, instead of driving a car. Started in June 2006 when gas prices were $3 per gallon, this national day emphasizes that public transportation is a convenient travel option that also helps people save money. According to the April APTA Transit Savings Report, individuals in a two-person household can save an average of more than $9,312 annually by downsizing to one car.
Additionally, public transportation is a cornerstone of local economies in urban, suburban, and rural communities. Every dollar invested in public transportation generates approximately $4 in economic returns, powering community growth and revitalization.