2015-Suggested-Activities-For-DTP

Suggested Activities for 2015 National Dump the Pump Day June 18, 2015

Suggested promotions/activities:  Offer free rides.  Offer discounts on weekly or monthly passes.  Have a drawing for free passes or other prizes.  Have drivers/conductors pass out giveaways to riders.  Work with local retailers to provide coupons to riders or discounts to people wearing Dump the Pump buttons or stickers. (see artwork)

Event suggestions:  Build partnerships with local businesses. Ask them to promote National Dump the Pump Day and explain how important public transportation is in helping their employees commute to work.  Hold an open house for community leaders and local media to see your facilities and equipment. Cap off the event with a ceremonial ride.  Invite elected officials to attend any events, as well as to ride public transportation that day.  Host an information fair promoting the benefits of public transportation.  Create school activities to get local children involved (i.e. coloring contest, slogan contest, rides to school).  Promote your agency and National Dump the Pump Day by setting up a table or booth at a popular location where there is a transit stop and a lot of pedestrian traffic.  APTA members: Share your ideas on the discussion board (see toolkit page).

Media:  Work to promote National Dump the Pump Day with your local media.  Let them know it is coming up in advance so it can be promoted before Thursday, June 18. (Utilize sample media advisory in tool kit.)  Offer high-level staff to appear on local broadcasts and invite media to any/all events.  Partner with a local media outlet or a local business to promote public transportation.  Use social media to spread the word about National Dump the Pump Day.

General:  Have special “Dump the Pump” messages for voice mail, email, and electronic message boards.  Produce special buttons for all employees to wear. (See artwork for Dump the Pump Day buttons and stickers.)  Utilize proclamations so local, regional, and state officials can proclaim National Dump the Pump Day in your area. (See template in the toolkit.)  Have your board pass a National Dump the Pump Day proclamation. (See template in the toolkit.)  Add a fuel calculator to your website so visitors can see how much they would save by using public transportation. (It can also be used at other events.) Link to the fuel calculator on the www.publictransportation.org website.  Link to the carbon calculator on the www.publictransportation.org website.  Utilize messaging and logos/artwork to create banners and signage for the day  Use destination headers to promote National Dump the Pump Day.