Dump the Pump!

Are you spending $10,000 more than you need to on transportation costs every year?

Guy Henderson

Every once in awhile, a statistic comes across our desks here at the MTA that reminds us why being in the public transportation industry is so rewarding – especially when we get to share news that’s really good.

According to the American Public Transportation Association’s (APTA) latest Transit Savings Report, commuters in the Baltimore region can save an average of $10,074 every year when they take public transportation instead of driving to work.

With gas prices rising, that’s a statistic that seems bound to get even better in the coming months and years. Of course, there are lots of other calculations that went into figuring out how commuters can save almost a $1,000 every month You can run the numbers regarding your own personal commuting circumstances by using their Transit Savings Calculator. I did, and as a bicyclist commuter, I save even more.

To celebrate the news and get the word out about the huge value that public transportation offers the riding public – as well as our community in general – APTA has designated Thursday, June 16th as national Dump the Pump Day. As you drive into Downtown Baltimore tomorrow and head for your expensive parking spot, you may see some of our fellow MTA associates out there reminding drivers that kicking our addiction to driving is easy – and not doing so costs a lot more than just the price of gasoline.

Give ‘em a friendly honk, would you? Then give yourself a break next time you have the option to take public transit. You’ll find our transportation options are pretty good at helping you relax while you “save your drive for the office.”

It’s National Safety Month. Are you protected against the top three causes of injury at home?

June 6, 2011
By Guy Henderson

Here at the MTA , keeping our customers safe is the most important thing we do, before, during and after every trip. But keeping an eye out for hazards at every turn isn’t just an on-the-job affair.  Now that National Safety Month is here, we thought you might find it useful to be aware of some of the most common causes of accidents at home.


As you might suspect, falling-related injuries are the leading cause of non-fatal, unintentional harm for people of all ages.  An average of 3.8 million residential fall injuries (and the resulting emergency room visits) take place every year. So make sure that double-sided tape is working on those area rugs you just have to have; be certain that toddler gates are in place and working; use non-skid mats around the bathroom; and stow those wires. There are more and better ways to protect yourself too.


Poisoning is the second leading cause of home injury, with approximately 2.5 million calls placed to poison centers annually nationwide regarding human exposure.  We won’t list all the ways to stay safe here, but for gosh sakes, keep cleaners, medicines, cosmetics and other potential hazards out of the reach of kids. There’s lots more you can do, but at a minimum, keep the National Poison Center phone number handy in case of an emergency: 1-800-222-1222. And by the way, have you checked your home for radon lately?


Residential fires and burns are the third leading cause of unintentional home injury deaths. If you don’t have a WORKING smoke detector with fully charged batteries in several places in your home, you are literally playing with fire.  There are plenty of other ways to protect yourself against a home fire , but at least have a Home Fire Escape Plan for starters. Keep flammable stuff away from space heaters and fireplaces. Have a fire extinguisher handy. And do we really need to say you should never leave a room with a lit candle burning? Good. Didn’t think so.

One last safety tip. Keep a list of emergency contacts in a visible place around your home. Just print out and fill out the form with some of your most important numbers on it. In an emergency, every second counts.


Actually, that wasn’t the last tip. Even if you remember nothing else about what you just read, the best advice we can give is summed up below.