Thousands of free taxi, livery cab and transit rides distributed as part of “You the Man” campaign, reminding New Yorkers to celebrate responsibly and plan for a designated driver
New York City Department of Transportation (DOT) Commissioner Janette Sadik-Khan today announced the return of the “Safe Rides Home” giveaway, with thousands of free taxi, livery and public transit rides home to be distributed from now until New Year’s Eve to encourage New Yorkers to be safe every time they celebrate by planning for a designated driver. This promotion is part of DOT’s “You the Man” campaign, which is designed to curb drinking and driving, reduce traffic crashes and make New York City’s streets even safer. DOT is working with Johnnie Walker to provide 1,500 free debit cards valued at $15 apiece for New Yorkers to use in taxis or at MetroCard or other transit-ticket machines this holiday season. In addition, 4,000 single-ride MetroCards will be distributed citywide as part of the program. Safe Rides Home reminds revelers that New Yorkers can count on friends and family members as designated drivers, as well as the city’s transportation professionals: cab, livery and bus drivers and subway operators. Former NFL quarterback and WFAN morning sports show host Boomer Esiason and Diageo Executive Vice President of Corporate Relations Guy Smith joined Commissioner Sadik-Khan for the giveaway at Times Square. The announcement marks the second year Johnnie Walker’s parent company, Diageo, has partnered with DOT to provide New York residents and visitors a free, safe ride home during the holidays.
“Wherever the celebration takes you on New Year’s and all year round, plan for a safe ride home with a designated driver,” said DOT Commissioner Sadik-Khan. “New York City’s designated drivers, including taxis, bus and subway operators, keep the good times rolling while making our streets as safe as they can be.”
“Taking taxis and other for-hire vehicles have always been a great way to demonstrate responsibility during the holiday season and the ‘You the Man’ campaign, along with these taxi cards are an excellent way to promote awareness,” said TLC Commissioner/Chair David Yassky.
“Johnnie Walker stands behind its commitment to responsible drinking. Joining the DOT for its annual Safe Rides Home program allows us to deliver a very important message during the holiday season,” said Diageo’s Guy Smith. “It makes sense that the country’s most popular New Year’s Eve destination would take the lead in celebrating responsibly. We are looking forward to ringing in 2012 safely with both our fellow New Yorkers and the thousands of visitors who travel to our city each year.”
DOT launched the first Safe Rides Home program last December, and 78 percent of all debit card transactions from that giveaway took place between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m. – prime celebratory hours. For this year’s Safe Rides Home promotion, the rides will be distributed in the form of pre-paid debit cards, which are processed by Western Union and valued at up to $15. They are redeemable exclusively in the city’s 13,000-plus taxicabs, participating livery car services, MTA, PATH, NJ Transit or other ticketing machines from Dec. 16 through noon, Jan. 1, 2012. The debit cards will be distributed at two events in December and MetroCard giveaways will take place in each borough this month. Dates, times and locations can be found on www.youthemannyc.org. To learn the exact whereabouts of the street team during the giveaways, follow @youthemannyc on Twitter.
Launched in February 2010, DOT’s You the Man social-marketing campaign is designed to reach all New Yorkers and encourage smart behavior that makes the city’s streets safer by keeping drunk drivers off the roads. The slogan, creative designs and humorous approach are especially designed to resonate with men ages 21-39, who statistics show are most likely to get into a DWI-related crash or accept a ride from an intoxicated driver. You the Man relies on peer-to-peer language to celebrate designated drivers and in its latest iteration uses humorous winter holiday scenarios to remind New Yorkers to plan for a designated driver. New ads will run now through the new year online as well as outdoors on billboards, on buses and on posters. The campaign features a Web site, www.youthemannyc.org, and a free iPhone app that uses GPS to help users find the closest subway stops and livery car services.
The NYPD will continue its drunken-driving enforcement throughout the holiday season with DWI patrols and checkpoints throughout the city. The NYPD made 9,601 DWI arrests and seized 1,363 vehicles from drunk drivers in 2010.
{ 6 comments… read them below or add one }
The app “You The Man” doesn’t include taxi ride or nearby taxi-stands and makes the drunk pass by taxistands and walk to neareat subway. No recognition and credit to yellowcab all this time and from now on safely transporting drunken passengers although they can be pain in the backseat. Without Invaluable presence of yellowcab, there is no night business and no safe streets without drunken drivers. But someone not enlightened is not only in charge of DOT but like to snatch credit for her “heroic” role. Chek out the app for yourself please. It gives the drunk options of calling car service or walk to nearby subway bypassing taxi or nearest taxistands. Well same
commissioner doesn’t recognize very elemental function of yellowcab of reducing
congestion: NewYorkers rely on the service without driving for themselves or outer
borough communiting drivers ever thinking of giving up with cab riding option not
biking. Encouraging biking to everybody “New Yorkers” not differentiating Manhattan and Staten Island, therefore bike PATH or EXPRESS on 8th Avenue next to JAF Post office, Penn and MSG where circus trailers for elephants parked and cabs are getting ticket for dropping off obstructing traffic! Everybody is paying extra for business because of this wrong policy for bikers who don’t own cars left in driveway like suburb therefore not contributing reducing traffic but aggravating more congestion with more polluted air to breathe for all including themselves pedaling. And this commissioner is saying biking is healthy and good for reducing obesity! Car exhaust is more harmful than smoking! It can even kill people indoors. And it is almost free one year payment less than MTA one month ride, she boasts! 20 bike stand next to taxi stand in Grand Central. We have to stop this nonsense somehow. We need action not just our business interest not to be big yellow slug waiting for red bike icon and green arrow but moving not MOOVING New York business and less congestion and less polluted air
for all
I am sure you have a lot to say about DOT’s performance and how it affects yellow cab business = Slowing down all New York business. Grade by me is F-= Fminus
I agree with Mario ….to bad F is the lowest …should be Z ….They have eliminated thousands of legal parking spaces that are destoying many bussiesses also in the city to make way for NON INCOME /NOT USED IDIOT BICICYLE LANES ….
City budget wasted for construction making worse: not repairing potholes is one thing but DOT creates potholes leaving manholes sunken and newly finished, thanks a lot. Creating bottlenecks in the name of pedestrian safety: very innovative indeed with bad air quality in Amsterdam and 72 St. You know I am sarcastic. Planters in unnecessary location blocking traffic and emergency vehicles: Stanton and Allen. Why do you need that extra space between 5 Ave and Bway at 23 n 25 people hiding behind plants sitting on tomb stones breathing bad air. No left turn 24 hours sign suddenly, through street sign for all to get stuck to curse to New york. No turn on red sign on 61 and York! Double lanes for right turn only on 11 Ave and 42 with Lincoln Tunnel traffic. Is this all planned by people living in New York? Outsourcing to Mumbay, India could have a better planning than this. I can go on forever so I better stop now.
Why doesn’t yellow cabs want to take their passengers to the BRoNX? I always have such a hard time. After I sit in the car and mention BRonx they rite away say NO. This is ridiculous but if I said BRooklyn or Queens they will take me with no problems.
Tya….Sorry Its because MOST drivers DONT know the area / streets , Or more than likely it might be close to thier shift change for the day , as most of the garages ARE in brooklyn or Queens , AND last but not least , More than likely the driver will not get a fare back , and because so many arent making that much to begin with , PS the taxi drivers HAVENT seen a fare increase in over 7 Yrs !!! The recent 50 cent surcharge is for the MTA , not drivers !!! Then we got Shafted having to pay 5% of fare to collect cash if you pay / paid with credit cards , and also GAS has hit most drivers HARD in the pocket from 7 yrs ago…. so if you think ts easy , try to be in the drivers shoe / seat for 12 hours , trust me its hell …..
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