For immediate release: June 16, 2008
Metro encourages area residents to 'Dump the Pump' and take Metro on June 19
Contest offers chance to win $100 SmarTrip card by guessing day's ridership
With gas prices reaching an all-time high, Metro is encouraging Washington-area residents to leave their vehicles at home and take public transportation for the third annual National Dump the Pump Day, Thursday, June 19.
Metro also is holding an online contest for participants to guess what Metrorail ridership will be on Dump the Pump Day. Anyone interested in taking a guess should visit http://www.wmata.com/events/dump_the_pump/dump_pump.cfm and complete the online form. Submissions are being accepted now until midnight on June 19. The contest winner will receive a SmarTrip card loaded with $100 value.
Sponsored by the American Public Transportation Association, the 2008 National Dump the Pump Day is a day for people across the country to join together and ride public transportation to conserve gasoline, help reduce greenhouse gases and save money.
“Using public transportation is the quickest way to beat high gas prices and help the environment,” said John Catoe, Metro General Manager. “If gas prices are too high for you, then leave your car at home and take a bus or a train on June 19.”
In addition to the contest, Metro also created a straight-to-YouTube video to highlight the positive environmental impact one person can make by taking public transportation instead of driving. To see the video, visit http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cpVw06fpRyM.
Metro has seen record-high ridership during the past few months. Since April of this year, Metrorail weekday ridership has cracked the top 10 highest ridership days in Metrorail history on five separate occasions. Combined with Metrobus ridership, Metro provides more than 1.2 million trips on an average weekday.