For Immediate Release
Date: June 12, 2009
Race, free bus fare highlight Dump the Pump DayPop quiz: A bicyclist, a bus rider, and the driver of a car each leave midtown Savannah at the same time headed for City Hall. Who gets there first?
Find out at 8:30 a.m. Thursday, June 18, when the City and its partners help put on the first ever "Dump the Pump Challenge" to mark National Dump the Pump Day. Chatham Area Transit (CAT) will mark the occasion in a big way by offering free fares all day on any of its regularly scheduled bus routes.
The rules of the "Dump the Pump Challenge" are as follows: The contestants will leave the Twelve Oaks Shopping Center on Abercorn Street at roughly 8:30 a.m., when the 14 Abercorn bus arrive at the stop located there. The contestants will follow all traffic laws and speed limits, and the bus will run a regular route, picking up and dropping off passengers as normal. The bus riding contestant must get off at a CAT bus stop, the bicyclist must rack his bike at a bike rack, and the driver must park his car in a parking garage. City leaders will award winner the contestant who first walks across the finish line, which will be located on the west side of City Hall, next to the Hyatt.
National Dump the Pump Day encourages people to leave their cars at home and consider alternative commuting options in an effort to improve air quality and conserve fuel. It is sponsored by the American Public Transportation Association to support public transportation as a viable commuting option that is economical and reduces our dependence on foreign oil. CAT's decision to offer a fare-free day is an excellent opportunity for residents who have never ridden a bus to try out Chatham County's convenient public transportation system.
The "Dump the Pump Challenge" is part of Savannah's ongoing Dump the Pump series, which includes bicycle commutes and other actions. It is sponsored by the City of Savannah, Savannah Bicycle Campaign, the Savannah Development and Renewal Authority, Coastal Commuters, Chatham Area Transit, and the Pedestrian Advocates of the Coastal Empire.
Area residents can learn more about local transportation options at www.savannahtransit.com, www.catchacat.org, bicyclecampaign.org, or find car pool partners at www.coastalcommuters.org.