Dump the Pump Day

  The second annual National Dump the Pump Day is June 21. On June 21, people across the country will "dump the pump" and ride public transportation. The event is sponsored by the American Public Transportation Association. More than 90 transit systems are participating in "dump the pump" activities this year.

"Dump the Pump Day" is a public awareness day that emphasizes the environmental benefits of using public transportation. The day also offers the opportunity for people to beat the high price of gasoline and support public transportation as in important travel option that helps reduce our nation's dependence on oil.

U.S. public transportation system help to create a healthier environment by reducing smog=producing pollutants and greenhouse gases. Public transportation produces nearly 50 percent less carbon dioxide and nitrogen oxide per passenger miles, as private vehicles. In addition, U.S. public transportation systems save 1.4 billion gallons of gasoline very year, the equivalent of 108 million cars filling up in a year.

So on Thursday, June 21 consider "dumping the pump" and taking ART, Metro or even walk or bike to work.

Bobbi Greenberg, Arlington County Commuter Services

Comments

[Allen Muchnick]

This campaign is mere greenwashing.

Despite APTA's boasting, the energy-saving and pollution-reduction virtues of public transportation are rather marginal; i.e.:

"Public transportation produces nearly 50 percent less carbon dioxide and nitrogen oxide per passenger miles, as private vehicles."

Supposedly, this is an average for both 1) all public transportation service (including peak-period transit service, when buses and railcars are packed) and 2) for all private motor vehicles (including the fuel-inefficient "light" trucks [SUVs] used by many today).

Thus, public transportation is no cleaner or more energy efficient overall per passenger mile than autos with moderately good fuel economy, and public transit at off-peak times may be no cleaner or more energy efficient than an "average" motor vehicle per passenger mile.

Still, taking transit on "dump the pump day" is slightly more effective than driving as usual on that day and merely buying the gasoline consumed on another day.