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BART riders "Dump the Pump"

BART riders save time, money and fuel

Bay Area commuters who today chose BART instead of driving joined millions of Americans in sending a message of "dump the pump," a simple show of force by the nation's mass transit riders. Commuters who rode public transportation rejected the skyrocketing cost of gasoline, relieved traffic congestion, helped protect the environment and even gave the economy a boost (former Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan yesterday warned high energy costs are beginning to stunt economic growth).

DRAMATIC DEMONSTRATION
BART's participation in the first National Dump the Pump day began in dramatic fashion at 4:30 a.m. with an 8,800 gallon gasoline tanker truck parked outside the Fremont Station. The 65-foot-long tanker represents just 4 percent of the 202,000 gallons of gas that BART riders save every day by taking mass transit instead of driving.

BART riders also reap some hefty personal cost savings. BART riders save between $5,000 and $10,000 a year if they leave their vehicle at home according to a study by the Institute of Local Self Reliance.

A NATIONAL STAND AGAINST GAS PRICE HIKES
BART joined more than 60 transit agencies, including those in Los Angeles, Chicago and Washington, D.C., in declaring June 8 Dump the Pump day. The American Public Transportation Association (APTA) called it "taking a stand against high gas prices." APTA, which organized the national effort, notes that more people than ever are dumping the pump. It says during the past 10 years, use of public transportation in the U.S. has grown by 25 percent ? a faster rate than the 22.5 percent growth of highway travel.

COST SAVINGS QUICK FACTS:

  • Average person pays 22 cents/mile on BART vs. 69 cents/mile driving**
  • BART riders get equivalent of 250 miles per gallon*
  • BART riders save $5,000 - $10,000/yr if they leave vehicle at home*

*According to Institute of Local Self Reliance 2003 study
**According to 2005 American Automobile Association study

Partial list of Other Dump the Pump Day participating cities

  • Los Angeles
  • Chicago
  • Washington, D.C.
  • Cincinnati
  • Denver
  • Kansas City
  • Sacramento
  • Raleigh/Durham, N.C.
  • Seattle
  • Miami
  • Fort Worth, TX
  • Milwaukee

For a complete list, call APTA at (202) 496-4816 or visit www.publictransportation.org.

Dump the Pump Facts

  • Gas prices have increased by 100% since January 2003.
  • Transit use saves more than 855 million gallons of gas every year.
  • BART riders save more than 202,000 gallons of gas every day.
  • If Americans used public transportation for just 10 % of daily travel needs, America's dependence on imported oil would decrease by more than 40%.