Ditch the car, hitch a ride

Posted Jun 18, 2009 by Mary Shedden

Updated Jun 18, 2009 at 09:10 AM

So, did you ride the bus to work today?

Commuters across the county are being encouraged to ditch the car for a bike or bus as part of National “Dump The Pump” day. It’s the American Public Transportation Association’s way of promoting mass transit or greener forms of moving to and from work.

The organization estimates individual Americans can save more than $8,000 a year by riding public transportation and living with one less car. Carbon emissions are reduced as is an estimated 900,000 tanks of gas each day by switching.

Personally, I’d love to take the bus each day, and carpool as much as possible with a co-worker. This time of year though, it’s horrific to think about riding a bike, especially since I’d have to cross one of the area’s big bridges.