RIPTA urging drivers to ‘dump the pump, ride public transit’ on June 18

PROVIDENCE – The Rhode Island Public Transit Authority said it is joining other public transportation systems across the nation to participate in the 10th annual “National Dump the Pump Day” on June 18.
This year’s slogan is “Dump the Pump. Ride Public Transit.”
According to a news release, RIPTA is encouraging people to demonstrate how they will “dump the pump” – whether it’s riding the bus, carpooling, walking, biking or telecommuting – by uploading a photo with the hashtag #DumpThePumpRI for a chance to win a RIPTA prize pack.
The 2015 National Dump the Pump Day, sponsored by the American Public Transportation Association, is meant to encourage people to ride public transportation instead of using a car for their daily commute and other trips, RIPTA said. In 2006, when gas prices exceeded $3 a gallon, this national day was slated to emphasize public transportation as a convenient and affordable travel option, according to RIPTA.
A recent APTA Transit Savings Report said individuals in a two-person household can save an average of more than $9,394 annually by downsizing to one car. According to APTA, every $1 invested in public transportation generates approximately $4 in economic returns, powering community growth and revitalization.
In addition to its participation in National Dump the Pump Day, RIPTA recently announced that it will no longer offer free rides on air quality alert days, and will instead launch a new summer program designed to encourage Rhode Islanders to improve air quality by leaving their cars at home and opting for public transportation. The announcement was made after the R.I. Department of Environmental Management called an air quality alert on June 11.
The “Try Transit Clean Air Challenge” will give Rhode Islanders who take part in the program five free, all day transit passes this summer. The challenge will be in effect for July and August. To participate in the challenge, people will have to fill out a brief survey about their travel habits on RIPTA.com, which will be made available by July 1. The survey will allow RIPTA to gather information that will enable them to launch other targeted programs in the future.
“We’re really excited about this new program because it’s a great introduction to public transportation and hopefully people will see that taking the bus is an easy, convenient and environmentally-friendly alternative to driving,” Barbara Polichetti, director of public affairs for RIPTA, said in a statement. “Also, we think that this new Clean Air Challenge is an improvement over our former program which offered free rides only on air quality alert days. We know that the free rides were popular, but we had to ask ourselves if they were really changing people’s travel habits.”
The new Try Transit Clean Air Challenge is more proactive than the former program, since people do not have to wait for an AQA day to try the bus and they can choose when they want to use their free rides, according to Polichetti.
“People can get their five, one-day passes and plan their travel accordingly,” Polichetti said. “We think five days will give someone a chance to get familiar with using our system.”
The program is funded by a federal grant under the Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality program, in addition to a required local match covered by RIPTA.
DEM issues an air quality alert on days when air quality is unhealthy due to a high level of particle pollution or ozone. DEM issued one air quality alert day last summer and has issued 33 alert days between 2008 and 2014.
According to the Federal Transit Administration, switching from driving to riding public transportation is one of the most effect actions individuals can take to reduce their carbon footprint.