Summary
- For The Holidays, Get A Free Ride
- NYC Anti Drunk Driving Campaign Hands Out $30,000 For Safety Over New Years 2011
- Where & When to Get Taxi and MetroCards
- Free Taxi Card & Metro Card: How to Use
- Use the “Find a Ride” Button to Get Phone Numbers for Local Car Services in Brooklyn
- Safety Campaign Underwritten by Johnnie Walker
For The Holidays, Get A Free Ride
New York City is utilizing giveaways and social media to ensure New Yorkers reach home safely on New Year’s Eve. They are offering:
- 1,500 free $15 cab rides valid within any of the 5 boroughs, plus
- 4,000 single-ride MetroCards.
This generous offer is available while supplies last.
NYC Anti Drunk Driving Campaign Hands Out $30,000 For Safety Over New Years 2011
The goal of the You The Man program is to deter drunk driving and encourage New Year revelers to opt for mass transit, taxis, or sober designated drivers. The giveaways alone in the You The Man anti-drunk driving campaign have a value exceeding $30,000.
This initiative, spearheaded by the City Department of Transportation, aims to distribute $22,500 in cab rides and $9,000 in free bus and subway rides during the two weeks leading up to New Year’s Eve. Although this may seem like a substantial investment, it pales in comparison to the cost of losing a life.
The campaign primarily targets men aged 21 to 39, a demographic identified by city statistics as being “most likely to be involved in a DWI-related crash or to accept a ride from an intoxicated driver.”
Where & When to Get Taxi and MetroCards
In 2011, the Taxi and MetroCards were distributed at various times and locations throughout the city, including major events and through “street teams” at the following spots:
- Friday, December 16, 11:30 AM – Times Square, Manhattan
- Thursday, December 20, 6 PM – Williamsburg, Brooklyn (Bedford & North 7th) and Astoria, Queens (Broadway & 31st)
- Thursday, December 22, 5 PM – Bronx Hub (149th street between Grand Concourse and The Hub)
- Friday, December 23, 5 PM – St. George, Staten Island (St. George Terminal) and Downtown Brooklyn in Fulton Mall.
- Saturday, December 31, 5 PM – Upper East Side (Second Avenue & 86th) and Harlem (Broadway & 125th), Manhattan
For precise locations of the giveaways, connect with You The Man online and check their Twitter account for live updates.
Free Taxi Card & Metro Card: How to Use
Free MetroCard: Utilizing the free holiday MetroCard is straightforward; it’s just like any standard MetroCard. These MetroCards are valid for the entire transit system, including subways and MTA buses, as well as PATH and NJ Transit. However, please note that they cannot be used to pay for taxi rides or car services.
Free Taxi Card: The Taxi Card functions as a pre-paid debit card. It can be used in both yellow cabs and participating livery car services. If you are considering a car service, be sure to confirm with the driver beforehand whether they accept the city’s Taxi Card. Each Taxi Card is worth $15; if your ride exceeds this amount, you will have to pay the balance.
These pre-paid debit cards can be used exclusively within the city’s 13,000-plus taxicabs, participating livery services, MTA, PATH, NJ Transit, or other ticketing machines from December 16 through noon on January 1, 2012.
Use the “Find a Ride” Button to Get Phone Numbers for Local Car Services in Brooklyn
If you are unsure where to find a car service on New Year’s Eve to return home, especially in Brooklyn where yellow cabs can be hard to come by, there is no need to worry. The DOT website offers a list of car services organized by neighborhood. Simply visit their website, enter your location, and a selection of local car services will be displayed.
Safety Campaign Underwritten by Johnnie Walker
While a $30,000 giveaway amidst a recession may appear too good to be true, there is a twist. This campaign is supported, in part, by the alcohol industry. According to their December 2011 press release, the DOT is collaborating with Johnnie Walker to provide 1,500 free debit cards, which represent a significant portion of the giveaway, valued around $22,000.
The DOT initiated the first Safe Rides Home program in 2010, during which over three-quarters of all debit card transactions occurred between 10 PM and 5 AM on New Year’s Eve, as reported by an agency spokesperson.
