SPRINGFIELD – The United Way of Pioneer Valley is once again teaming up with Yellow Cab Company of Springfield, Williams Distributing, and Rock 102/Lazer99.3 to offer the Dial-A-Ride program for Pioneer Valley residents to get a free cab ride home on New Year’s Eve, December 31st, 2013.
The program begins on New Year’s Eve at 8:00 p.m. and continues through 6:00 a.m. on New Years Day.
During these hours, Yellow Cab will offer a free ride home to anyone in their service area. The Yellow Cab number is 739-9999.
“Our goal each year is to provide an opportunity for Pioneer Valley residents to get home safely on New Year’s Eve,” said Andrea Gauvin, Marketing & Communications Coordinator for the United Way of Pioneer Valley. “Operating a vehicle under the influence can change your life and the lives of the people that you love this holiday season. It’s not worth the risk. We want people to know that they have an option.”
The Dial-A-Ride program seeks to reduce the number of alcohol-related traffic accidents in the Pioneer Valley during the New Years holiday, encouraging residents to make the right choice and get home responsibly. According to the Yellow Cab Company, the number of rides given fluctuates from year to year. “We do it to give back to the community,” said Kamyar Rahmani-Kia, operations manager at Yellow Cab. “Some years are busier than others, but if we give just one ride home its worth it.”
For the past 33 years, the United Way has partnered with Pioneer Valley businesses to coordinate the program. Besides Yellow Cab, Rock 102 helps with publicity and Williams Distributing distributes promotional materials to hundreds of their customers. Hundreds of local restaurants, bars, and package stores will place publicity posters in their establishments.
During these hours the Yellow Cab Company of Springfield will give a free ride home to anyone in the Hampden County, South Hadley and Granby area to the home address on their valid Massachusetts ID. The number to call is (413) 739-9999.
