You already know that there are a lot of free transit options to prevent you from getting hammered and driving drunk, but it took Appeal commenter Matt Baume to help us dig up one more, an alternative for cyclists who find themselves too buzzed to pedal back home
Muni’s letting you ride for free from 8 PM on New Year’s Eve to 6 AM on New Year’s Day (fun fact: they project this will cost them “between $150,000 and $200,000 in lost revenue and added expenses,” MTA spokesperson Paul Rose told the Chron). Metro service will run until 4 AM, and will run extra Owl buses between 1 and 5 AM New Year’s Day.
And, of course, there’s “Tipsy Tow,” in which drivers can call (800) 222-4357 (AAA-HELP) from 6 PM tonight to 6 AM tomorrow and to get a free one-way ride for drivers and passengers as well as a free one-way tow for the driver’s car. All drivers need do is tell the operator “I need a Tipsy Tow,” and a tow truck will be sent out to your’s location, to take you on home.
It was the latter service that inspired notorious bicycle enthusiast Baume to ask “Do you need to own a car to use the Tipsy Tow, or can I call and get me and my bike carted home?”
One option is to take home a bike rack equipped Muni line, of course. But what if Muni is, for some reason, not an option?
According to Tipsy Tow, they’re also out of the question, telling the Appeal that their service is “just for cars.”
However! According to a Abbey Smith, spokesperson for Berg Injury Lawyers’ Safe and Sober program, cyclists (or plain old pedestrians) can call Luxor Cab at (415) 282-4141, and mention the law firm’s name and/or program, and will get their cab ride home paid for by Berg.
After checking with Luxor, Smith confirmed that “cyclists are welcome to use the safe ride home program…Luxor says that as long as a bike can fit in the trunk, it’s fine with them. So, please be sure to let cyclists know that they may need to remove the front wheels of their bikes or make other necessary modifications to ensure a proper fit in the cab.”
We’re eager to see how this works as a practical application, so, Matt, can you please get hammered and give this a shot?
Rides are for adults (cyclists and otherwise) who have been drinking and will be provided from a bar or restaurant to an individual’s residence, not to other drinking locations. Rides must be within SF, and must cost less than $35 — if you somehow rack up a larger fare, you’re responsible for anything over that.
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