PLUMMER - Citylink, the local bus service that serves Kootenai and Benewah counties, is participating in National Dump the Pump Day on Thursday.

Sponsored by the American Public Transportation Association (APTA) and started in 2006, Dump the Pump Day encourages people to ride public transportation instead of driving a car. The slogan of this year's National Dump the Pump Day is "Dump the Pump. Save Money. Ride Transit."

To celebrate Dump the Pump Day, many public transit systems across the nation are offering rides fare-free or at a reduced cost to anyone who wants to try public transit. However, Citylink, the only public transit service in the Coeur d'Alene region is currently free to users year-round so Citylink will be offering riders a chance to enter a drawing for a variety of cash prizes and other prizes as an incentive to continue to use public transit.

Prizes have been donated by Kootenai County, Kootenai Medical Center, First Transit, the Coeur d'Alene Tribe, the Kootenai Metropolitan Planning Organization and the cities of Coeur d'Alene, Hayden and Post Falls.

"Saving money is on everyone's minds and public transportation is a quick and easy way to beat high gas prices," said Alan Eirls, Citylink's transportation manager. "Citylink is an excellent option for those looking to save money on gas and the regular maintenance expenses that comes with owning a car. We want people to know that Citylink is a safe and reliable transportation alternative in Kootenai County and encourage everyone to give us a try."

According to the latest APTA Transit Savings Report, individuals in a two-person household can save an average of more than $10,000 annually by downsizing to one car.

Citylink has operated as a free transportation service since its launch in 2005, funded jointly by a federal grant and local matching funds provided by the Coeur d'Alene Tribe and other area entities. The transit service recently underwent some service changes but continues to transport thousands of riders for free across Kootenai and Benewah counties each month.