Safe ride home program gets extensions in Evesham thanks to donors
Date Posted:
Tue, Oct 20 2015,
South Jersey Local News
Evesham >> The township will be extending and also changing a popular program that gives people who have had too much to drink a ride home safely, sometimes even with their cars.
Since it began over the Labor Day weekend, Evesham Saving Lives, a pilot program sponsored by Evesham Celebrates among other donors, has helped get more than 350 people home from area establishments safely, according to Mayor Randy Brown. The program allows people to call for a free ride home, via the township app on their phone, if they have been out at local a bar and have had one too many alcoholic beverages. It will now be extended until the new year, he said, to help keep people safe during the upcoming holiday season.
“Your job is to keep your residents as safe as possible,” Brown said. “When you’re in a situation where you believe you need some assistance, they’ll always be there. We’re going to make it real, real simple.”
Since it began about a month ago, Police Chief Christopher Chew said there have been zero drunk driving arrests of people from Evesham coming from Evesham restaurants. Drunk driving is an issue that needs to be dealt with proactively, he said, not reactively, to help protect as many lives as possible.
“We needed a holistic approach to solve the issue, we can’t arrest our way out of it,” Chew said. “You can’t put a price tag on human life, that’s why it’s important. I’m very proud to be part of this program.”
Before with the program, people were picked up on a trolley, which made stops serving the township’s 19 bars and restaurants. If someone needed their car to be brought home with them, they could use the Sober Sam service, with the township arranging payment for both modes of transportation. Now, according to Brown, since the program will be extended, the township wanted to make it even easier, so they called upon Uber, a service similar to that of a taxi, but which is dispatched through an app, for help.
“We’re always looking for ways to utilize technology to better serve the areas where we operate,” said Ana Mahony, general manager of Uber New Jersey. “We have found when Uber operates in a city, drunk driving decreases. We help provide a safe ride home late at night when they need it.”
From 9 p.m. to 2 a.m., Uber will beef up the amount of drivers in the area to keep up with increasing demand, she said. Residents can use the township app to call for an Uber driver to take them home. For those who don’t live in Evesham, she said, people can use the regular Uber app and be provided with a reasonably priced, safe ride home. Since the number of drivers will already be increased, the wait time won’t be as long for anyone in the area wishing to use the service.
The township has also called upon the services of BemyDD, a service that offers both personal drivers and a pick-up service according to Alexa Milkovich, director of marketing. Sometimes people may live only a short distance from where they’re at and “take the risk” of driving their car home because they need their car. With BemyDD, they can get their car home safely with them.
Even with Evesham paying for both services, Brown said no tax payer money will be spent on this extension of the program. Through anonymous donors, money from Evesham Celebrates and local businesses, including many of the establishments the program serves, the program will be fully funded. Once Jan. 2 rolls around, he said, the township will look at the issue and make a decision if they want to continue it using township money if they have to. For now, Brown said the program announcement is one of his “happiest days as mayor” and that saving lives is more important than money.
“All you have to do is open your phone and push a button. You can’t put a price on someone’s life. This is a program that will be emulated all throughout the U.S.”
To use the free service, one must be an Evesham resident, be at a township establishment and have downloaded the Evesham Township app. Once the app is open, you will see buttons for Uber and BemyDD.
Since it began over the Labor Day weekend, Evesham Saving Lives, a pilot program sponsored by Evesham Celebrates among other donors, has helped get more than 350 people home from area establishments safely, according to Mayor Randy Brown. The program allows people to call for a free ride home, via the township app on their phone, if they have been out at local a bar and have had one too many alcoholic beverages. It will now be extended until the new year, he said, to help keep people safe during the upcoming holiday season.
“Your job is to keep your residents as safe as possible,” Brown said. “When you’re in a situation where you believe you need some assistance, they’ll always be there. We’re going to make it real, real simple.”
Since it began about a month ago, Police Chief Christopher Chew said there have been zero drunk driving arrests of people from Evesham coming from Evesham restaurants. Drunk driving is an issue that needs to be dealt with proactively, he said, not reactively, to help protect as many lives as possible.
“We needed a holistic approach to solve the issue, we can’t arrest our way out of it,” Chew said. “You can’t put a price tag on human life, that’s why it’s important. I’m very proud to be part of this program.”
Before with the program, people were picked up on a trolley, which made stops serving the township’s 19 bars and restaurants. If someone needed their car to be brought home with them, they could use the Sober Sam service, with the township arranging payment for both modes of transportation. Now, according to Brown, since the program will be extended, the township wanted to make it even easier, so they called upon Uber, a service similar to that of a taxi, but which is dispatched through an app, for help.
“We’re always looking for ways to utilize technology to better serve the areas where we operate,” said Ana Mahony, general manager of Uber New Jersey. “We have found when Uber operates in a city, drunk driving decreases. We help provide a safe ride home late at night when they need it.”
From 9 p.m. to 2 a.m., Uber will beef up the amount of drivers in the area to keep up with increasing demand, she said. Residents can use the township app to call for an Uber driver to take them home. For those who don’t live in Evesham, she said, people can use the regular Uber app and be provided with a reasonably priced, safe ride home. Since the number of drivers will already be increased, the wait time won’t be as long for anyone in the area wishing to use the service.
The township has also called upon the services of BemyDD, a service that offers both personal drivers and a pick-up service according to Alexa Milkovich, director of marketing. Sometimes people may live only a short distance from where they’re at and “take the risk” of driving their car home because they need their car. With BemyDD, they can get their car home safely with them.
Even with Evesham paying for both services, Brown said no tax payer money will be spent on this extension of the program. Through anonymous donors, money from Evesham Celebrates and local businesses, including many of the establishments the program serves, the program will be fully funded. Once Jan. 2 rolls around, he said, the township will look at the issue and make a decision if they want to continue it using township money if they have to. For now, Brown said the program announcement is one of his “happiest days as mayor” and that saving lives is more important than money.
“All you have to do is open your phone and push a button. You can’t put a price on someone’s life. This is a program that will be emulated all throughout the U.S.”
To use the free service, one must be an Evesham resident, be at a township establishment and have downloaded the Evesham Township app. Once the app is open, you will see buttons for Uber and BemyDD.