Published June, 08 2011

Dump the Pump on June 16 and Enjoy Free Rides on IndyGo

INDIANAPOLIS, IND. (June 8, 2011) – With the return of high gas prices, it’s a great time to give public transportation a try—especially with IndyGo offering free rides on its local fixed route service and Open Door paratransit service on Thursday, June 16 in honor of National Dump the Pump Day.

IndyGo is joining other public transportation agencies across the United States to celebrate this annual event, sponsored by the American Public Transportation Association (APTA). Now in its sixth year, Dump the Pump Day encourages people to ride public transportation and save money, instead of driving a car. IndyGo will subsidize these free rides by using Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality grant money.

“If you’ve never ridden IndyGo before, Dump the Pump is a good day to take a test drive,” said Mike Terry, president and CEO for IndyGo. “We want non-riders to realize that public transportation can be a viable option for getting to and from work. Not only does it do wonders for your wallet, it increases sustainability, cuts down on traffic congestion and gives you a chance to read or relax during your commute.”

According to APTA’s latest transit savings report, individuals in a two-person household can save an average of more than $10,000 annually by downsizing to one car. IndyGo local fixed route service, which costs $1.75 for a single ride, can significantly lower transportation costs for Marion County citizens, without them having to sacrifice their freedom and mobility. Additionally, all IndyGo buses are ADA accessible and have two-unit bike racks .

In reviewing IndyGo’s preliminary local service ridership numbers from last month, the company delivered 762,415 passenger trips, which is up 13.6% over May 2010. “This proves people are feeling the pain at the pump and opting for alternative modes of transportation,” said Terry. “Our hope is that once gas prices are no longer an issue for these individuals, they will continue to use our services because of all the great benefits public transportation has to offer.”

Those who have never ridden an IndyGo bus can prepare for Dump the Pump Day by visiting the company’s new web site at IndyGo.net, which offers individual route maps and schedules, comprehensive how-to-ride information as well as personalized online trip planning assistance. Individuals who prefer speaking to an IndyGo representative should contact the company’s call center at 317.635.3344.

Special Note: Free Dump the Pump rides on June 16 do not apply to IndyGo’s Green Line downtown/airport express.

About APTA:
The American Public Transportation Association (APTA) is a nonprofit international association of 1,500 public and private member organizations, engaged in the areas of bus, paratransit, light rail, commuter rail, subways, waterborne services, and intercity and high-speed rail. This includes: transit systems; planning, design, construction, and finance firms; product and service providers; academic institutions; transit associations and state departments of transportation. More than 90 percent of the people using public transportation in the United States and Canada are served by APTA member systems. Visit apta.com for more information.

About IndyGo:
IndyGo, the Indianapolis Public Transportation Corporation, provides public bus transit services to residents and visitors throughout Marion County. IndyGo is led by President and Chief Executive Officer, Mike Terry, and a seven-member, bipartisan board appointed by the Mayor of Indianapolis and the City-County Council of Indianapolis and Marion County. With 31 fixed routes, which include 30 local service routes and one airport express shuttle, as well as a Flexible Services Department, which includes an ADA-compliant paratransit service, IndyGo provides an average of nine million trips per year. Visit IndyGo.net or call 317.635.3344 for more information. Find IndyGo on Twitter at IndyGoBus or Facebook by searching pages “IndyGo.”