Annual program offers free taxi rides during New Years celebrations

Thanks to an annual program, Monroe County residents can save money and not worry this New Year’s Eve by calling Yellow Cab for free taxi rides.

These free rides within Monroe County will be available from 9 p.m. Dec. 31 through 4 a.m. Jan. 1, said Joy Heller of Bloomington Hospital Community Health Education, in an email.

The goal of the program is to help individuals who would normally be driving between their homes and New Year's Eve celebrations.

Yellow Cab and Bloomington Hospital, in addition to others, have sponsored the event for the past 15 to 20 years, Heller said.

The co-sponsors of this program this year are Bloomington Hospital; Yellow Cab; City of Bloomington Safe & Civil City Program, Community and Family Resources Department; and Chris Gaal, Monroe County Prosecuting Attorney.

“The goal of this program is to help keep our streets safe on New Year’s Eve and encourage those celebrating to be safe as they make their way home,” Heller said. “Yellow Cab does a wonderful job with this project and is a great asset to our community.”

IU alumnus and Bloomington resident Matt Heston said he thinks the program is a good idea.

“Yellow Cab offering free service is definitely a step in the right direction for keeping drunk drivers off the streets,” Heston said.

Heston said New Year’s Eve is particularly prone to drunk driving incidents, because people are not only driving while intoxicated, but also during late hours of the evening while often in adverse weather conditions.

“Anytime that the "need" to take one's own car after drinking is eliminated, sober citizens are better off,” Heston said.