Santa Clarita residents are being encouraged to ride public transportation for free instead of driving on Thursday, June 18 for the national Dump the Pump Day in partnership with KHTS AM-1220 and Santa Clarita Transit.

“(This event) encourages folks to leave their cars at home and ride local public transportation for the day,” said Patrick Bryant of the City of Santa Clarita. “So literally dump that gas pump and hop aboard a local bus.”

Riding public transit is an economical way to save money, particularly when gas prices are high according to the American Public Transit Association, or APTA.

A two person household that downsizes to one car can save, on average, more than $9,569, according to the latest APTA Transit Savings Report.

By making the pledge, residents were given a voucher for free local bus rides with Santa Clarita Transit.

“This is a very exciting promotion,” said Bryant. “The sky is the limit, you can really take the bus anywhere you want to go within the valley and it’s a great, efficient, cost-effective way to do so.”

In addition to free local bus rides, participants were also entered into a raffle to win prizes like monthly bus passes, an annual pass and theme park tickets.

With the recent introduction of the Transit Information Network, riders can receive up-to-the-minute information on the current location of a bus. Live dispatchers update the information any time buses are running, according to Adrian Aguilar, the Santa Clarita Transit Manager.

An example of a QR code at a Santa Clarita Transit bus stop. Photo courtesy of Santa Clarita Transit.

“What we found is that when people have that information, they’re less afraid or apprehensive to use the service,” said Adrian Aguilar, the Santa Clarita Transit Manager. “One of the biggest fears people have about using the bus is getting stuck, not knowing which bus to take, where to go, where to get on, where to get off. With this technology, it’s a lot easier for people.”

The information can be accessed via the web, smartphone, Bus Finder or one of 30 arrival display signs located throughout Santa Clarita.

Each stop has a unique QR Code which riders can scan with their smartphone to get real-time arrival information.

Each stop also has a number listed underneath the QR code riders can text and receive information if they do not have a smartphone.

A Bus Finder Map is also available online for passengers looking to identify a route’s arrival times prior to boarding the bus.