New Year’s Eve safe rides
Listen to this articleIt’s New Year’s Eve once again and you are planning a night out partying like a rock star — it’s L.A. so you just might be a rock star — but you don’t want to wake up behind bars on New Year’s Day. They don’t serve Bloody Marys at Central Booking. So what do you do?
Probably the best thing to do is arrange for a designated driver. Is there someone in your party who doesn’t drink? If not you can actually call for a designated driver, for a price. My Private Driver for Los Angeles will set one up, just call 310-372-4120. They are available 24/7. Or Santa Clarita Safe Rides at 661-259-6330. They are available between 10 p.m. tonight and 2 a.m. Friday Morning.
If you did drive and you know you’re too drunk to drive (it happens all too often) you can call AAA for a “Tipsy Tow.” They will tow your car and you home. Just call (800) 400-4AAA and tell the operator “I need a Tipsy Tow” to request a free tow of up to seven miles, restricted to the driver only.
You don’t have to be a member of AAA, it’s open to everyone, from 6 p.m. Thursday to 6 a.m. Friday. Only one free tow per caller, and the service is one way only. Beyond seven miles, the tow-truck contractor will charge drivers the standard rate.
The Tipsy Tow service is available in all 13 Southern California counties served by the Auto Club. The service excludes rides for passengers and the destination is limited to the driver’s residence. Reservations are not accepted.
If you really want to be cool, L.A. Metro will be your designated driver — for free. They will operate 24-hour, over night service on the Metro Rail, plus the Orange and Silver Lines. Free rides will be provided from 9 p.m. Thursday Night until 2 a.m. Friday Morning.
All Metro Rail Line Stations with latched gates will have the gates open during these times.
The Orange line will operate every 20 minutes and the Silver Line every 60 minutes.
After 2 a.m. you will have to pay for the rides. A one-way fare $1.75 and covers all transfers within a two-hour period.
OCTA, the Orange County Transportation Authority, will offer free rides once again. You can ride for free from 6 p.m. Thursday to 2:30 a.m. Friday.
They suggest you plan your trip ahead of time by visiting their online scheduler Here. Or call 714-636-7433.
In San Diego you will still have to pay for your rides on the trolleys and buses, but most of the bus routes will run regular schedules, with expanded services on the #7 and #30 lines. You can see the schedules Here. You can see the extended trolley service Here.
There’s no reason to drink and drive, so don’t. New Year’s Day is the worst day for drunk driving fatalities. We could change that by taking advantage of the services provided to get to and from the parties safely.
Happy New Year!
Top photo by Claudia Gestro
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