Free rides on the Red Rabbit

GAINESVILLE - Hall Area Transit says it will join other public transportation systems nationwide to participate in the fourth annual National Dump the Pump Day Thursday, June 18.

Sponsored by the American Public Transportation Association (APTA), the 2009 National Dump the Pump Day is a day that encourages people to ride public transportation to save money, protect the environment, reduce our dependence on foreign oil, and improve our quality of life.

Organizers say individuals can achieve an average annual savings of over $8,000 by taking public transportation instead of driving and by living with one less car. And for every $1 invested in public transportation infrastructure, $6 is generated in economic returns to communities.

"By participating in Dump the Pump Day, we hope people who have never used Hall Area Transit will decide to give us a try instead of driving their car," said Phillippa Lewis Moss, Director of the Gainesville-Hall County Community Service Center. Moss said new and long time riders will be rewarded with special services and benefits on National Dump the Pump Day, including:

*Free rides on the Red Rabbit.
*Drawings for three free 20-ride "punch" tickets
*Free tickets will be offered to their customers by various businesses along the Red Rabbit routes. These tickets will be good from June 18-August 31.

Statistics show that nationwide public transportation saves 900,000 automobile fill-ups each day - 4.2 billion gallons of gasoline per year. And switching to public transportation can reduce individual carbon emissions by 20 pounds per day or 4,800 pounds per year.