“If we can help save just one life with this effort, it’s totally worth it.” That’s one of the messages from Brainerd Lakes Towards Zero Deaths.
Starting Friday, July 29th and running 7 days a week, patrons of Shep’s on 6th, The Last Turn, The Parlor, VFW, Pit Stop, 5 Rocks Distilling, CC’s Bar and 9th Street Social Club in partnership with Brainerd Taxi will provide safe rides home. Patrons that feel like they have had too much to drink just need to ask a member of the bar staff for a safe ride call, then the bar calls Brainerd Taxi, gives the customer a voucher to give the driver which is good for a ride up to 20 miles to their hotel or home. Riders are encouraged to thank the drivers with any gratuity they feel is earned.
Brainerd Lakes TZD, Brainerd Taxi and Brainerd Community Action with funding from C&L Distributing, Dahlheimer Beverage & Bernicks hope to continue the Safe Ride program indefinitely as long as funding is secured states Baxter Assistant Police Chief, Matt Maier. Maier is the chair of the TZD Better Bar subcommittee. The program is also looking at adding other Brainerd establishments and potentially Baxter locations if this pilot program runs smoothly.
Brainerd Taxi owner John Hoskins shared that his company is happy to partner with Brainerd Lakes TZD. “It’s our hope that with the Safe Ride program, Brainerd Taxi can continue our goal of safe transportation in the Brainerd Lakes Area.”