Free Rides Offered On National "Dump The Pump" Day

MIAMI (CBS4) - Miami-Dade and Broward public transit commuters "dumped the pump" on Thursday to take a ride on public transit buses and trains free of charge.

The 6th annual Dump the Pump Day encouraged people to leave the car at home and ride a bus, train or bike to work. It's a national effort spearheaded six years ago by the American Public Transportation Association.

But not everyone knew about the initiative or participated.

"I used to live in New York and I didn't have a car in New York," commuter Raul Aguilar said. "You know I didn't drive in New York, but here, you're almost forced to do it."

But not everyone is buying into that. Commuter Shannon Boyd was one of thousands taking the Tri-Rail.

"I take the train then take the metro rail," he said. "I enjoy the ride and it's cheaper. Gas is too high."

Many commuters took to public transit, not because it's pump day but because it was free.

According to the latest APTA Transit Savings Report, a two-person household can save, on the average, more than $10,000 a year by downsizing to one car.

Specifically, a commuter driving 57 miles, an average round trip commute, with 21 workdays can expect to pay $600 a month. That includes car payments.

But take those same trips on the train with an unlimited Tri-Rail pass and it's $75 a month.

Commuters who participated in the free ride in Broward had to bring along a gas receipt and show it at a designated gas receipt redemption location to receive a free transit pass before boarding a bus.

Last year, more than 120 transit systems across the country offered free rides to encourage commuters to take public transportation.