Encinitas Residents Asked to 'Dump the Pump' on Thursday

SANDAG recently made the following announcement:

Encinitas residents are invited to celebrate National Dump the Pump Day on Thursday, June 20. Everyone is encouraged to ride public transit, vanpool, carpool, bike or walk to work or school, or telework as a way to save money and reduce their carbon footprint. SANDAG, the Metropolitan Transit System (MTS), and the North County Transit District (NCTD) will join public transportation groups nationwide to promote the eighth annual event.

Using public transportation is an economical way to beat high gas prices and help the environment. According to the latest Transit Savings Report by the American Public Transportation Association (APTA), San Diegans in a two-person household can save an average of $10,428 annually by downsizing to one car. APTA also reported that one person with a 20-mile round trip commute, switching from driving to public transit, can reduce carbon emissions by 20 pounds per day, or more than 4,800 pounds in a year.

On Thursday, from 6:30 to 8:30 a.m., representatives from MTS and the SANDAG iCommute program will be at the Old Town Transit Center (4009 Taylor St. in San Diego) thanking commuters and informing the public about special offers for using alternative transportation. KyXy 96.5 Radio will kick off the morning commute with great music and gift cards/certificates for sundaes and movies. The first 200 people who pledge to Dump the Pump will receive a bottled juice or water, courtesy of MTS and Coca-Cola. For North County commuters, iCommute will have a booth at the Escondido Transit Center (796 West Valley Parkway in Escondido) from6:30 to 8:30 a.m. NCTD is conducting a social media campaign to educate and encourage San Diego County residents to participate in Dump the Pump Day.

Special Dump the Pump promotions are available this month:

• Those who pledge to Dump the Pump and log their alternative commute trips online in the iCommute TripTracker tool through June 30 will be entered in a drawing for a $50 Albertsons grocery card. An alternative commute includes taking public transit, carpooling, vanpooling, biking, walking, or teleworking. Commuters visiting the iCommute booth in Old Town or Escondido can learn more and pledge in person.
• Those who sign up to lease a van and start a vanpool through an iCommute vendor by June 30 will get a special discount. Enterprise Rideshare will take $100 off the first month’s lease and vRide will offer the first month’s lease for free. vRide also is offering $400 to current vanpools who refer a new vanpool group. In addition, the SANDAG iCommute program provides qualifying vanpools a subsidy of up to $400 per month to help offset the cost of the lease.
• Those who stop by the MTS booth at the Old Town Transit Center on Thursday from 6:30 to 8:30 a.m. to play “Ring-Around-The-Gas-Can” and pledge to Dump the Pump will be entered into a drawing for a $25 Best Buy gift card or a Regional 30-Day Pass on Compass Card.

For more information about Dump the Pump Day, call 511 and say “iCommute” or click through “What’s New” at 511sd.com/iCommute.