Dump The Pump

Traffic jams, bad drivers and potholes are just part of the daily grind for Tulsa commuters, unless you ride the bus. The Metro Tulsa Transit Authority encouraged drivers to Dump the Pump on Thursday

Thursday, June 21st 2007, 6:35 am

By: News On 6

Traffic jams, bad drivers and potholes are just part of the daily grind for Tulsa commuters, unless you ride the bus. The Metro Tulsa Transit Authority encouraged drivers to Dump the Pump on Thursday and take a free ride to work. News On 6 anchor Omar Villafranca reports besides offering free coffee and donuts, the Transit Authority wants to remind drivers that taking the bus saves money and the environment.

Joel Zinn lives in Broken Arrow and works 22 miles away in downtown Tulsa, but he only drives three miles a day to get to work. For the other 19 miles he lets someone else fight traffic.

"If you weren't taking the bus, what would you be driving right now?â€ News On 6 anchor Omar Villafranca asked.

â€œA Chevy Avalanche,â€ bus rider Joel Zinn said.

â€œThat doesn't get very good gas mileage,â€ said Villafranca.

â€œNo," said Zinn.

Bus riders save money by not filling up as often. Plus, instead of fighting traffic passengers can read a book or the paper. Workaholics can even take advantage of the free Wi-Fi and log-on to the Internet to finish up some work.

"I know that 20 minutes it takes to get from there to here, I don't know if I want to be working, but I could if I wanted to, but it would be just nice to have some time to kind of relax when the days over or prepare for when you go in," Zinn said.

Bill Cartwright of the Tulsa Transit Authority says the Dump the Pump program works because gas prices are high. He hopes the higher gas prices go the more riders will consider the alternative. Cartwright says besides saving money and cutting down on pollution passengers get a different perspective.

"When you drive all the time it's really nice to get on a bus and be able to look out the window and not have to watch the whole road all the time. You see things you didn't realize and it is very enjoyable," General Manager of the Metro Tulsa Transit Authority Bill Cartwright said.

More than 100 cities across the nation participated in the Dump the Pump program Thursday. In Tulsa the program only included the three express busses. Thereâ€™s no word yet on how many people tried out the program.

To find out more about Dump the Pump, click here.

Watch the video: Saving Gas By Riding The Bus