Free New Year's Eve cab rides return to Baltimore thanks to Tipsy Taxi
For the third year in a row, Baltimore residents will get free cab rides on New Year's Eve.
Yellow Cab Baltimore, AAA Mid-Atlantic and the State Highway Administration with the Maryland Transit Administration, have partnered to offer the Tipsy? Taxi! program this Friday to residents who've done just a little too much celebrating.
From midnight until 4 a.m., cab rides under $50 originating in the city will be comped by the program.
The Maryland Transit Administration will make an official announcement Tuesday at a press conference at the Inner Harbor.
The cab rides are the third free transportation option residents will have on New Year's Eve this year. The MTA partnered with MillerCoors to offer free services until 2 a.m. that day, and the Charm City Circulator will extend operating hours until 1 a.m.
Tipsy? Taxi! aims to "deter impaired drivers from getting behind the wheel," said Lora Rakowski, a spokeswoman for SHA.
It's been offered on New Year's Eve in the city since 2008, when at least 110 residents took advantage of it. And was also on hand earlier this year on other drinking high holidays like St. Patrick's Day, the Fourth of July and Halloween.
To get picked up by Tipsy? Taxi!, call 1-877-963-TAXI.
The program, though, does come with a few provisos: residents can only be dropped off at their homes, not other bars or restaurants. And, confusingly, they must be 21 or older. Because minors who drink illegally totally don't need free designated drivers.
And beware, at least one resident has complained about the service's timeliness in the past.
Photo: SHA
Erik Maza is a features reporter at the Baltimore Sun. He writes for several sections of the Sun paper and contributes weekly columns on music and nightlife. He also writes and edits the Midnight Sun blog. He often covers entertainment, business, and the business of entertainment. Occasionally, he writes about Four Loko, The Block, the liquor board, and those who practice "
Comments
I'm sure the same fake ID that was good enough to get served will be good enough to get a ride home.
Posted by: Baltimocker | December 27, 2010 3:06 PM
Does ANYONE know of anyone who has actually been able to take advantage of this?
I have worked at a bar for roughly 8 or 9 years for party holidays in Baltimore and DC where free rides have been advertised, and every time I've called for customers they either don't answer or the cab doesn't show. These aren't out of the way bars, but rather right in the middle of the festivities.
I don't mean to be cynical, it just sucks having the customers come back to me over and over asking where the cab is.
Great idea, but it gets an F in practice...
Posted by: Mather | December 27, 2010 4:18 PM
i've asked for it once (from yellow cab) and the cab driver refused. I think its a sham.
Posted by: vocoder | December 27, 2010 4:34 PM
I've tried this twice and was charged both times. When I mentioned it was supposed to be free both drivers said they would call the police if I refused to pay.
Posted by: Paul | December 27, 2010 4:40 PM
I complained about it earlier. I think it's all PR. I rarely have gotten anyone to pick up the phone and they have never shown up when they do
It's not something a just can just climb in to any cab and ask for either.
Maybe there is some journalist out there who can look in to it
Posted by: foo | December 27, 2010 5:07 PM
This service does not exist. Every time I've attempted to use tipsy taxi, the number rings busy and cuts off. Tipsy taxi is nothing but a big fat joke.
Posted by: Adam | December 27, 2010 7:53 PM
This service does not exist. Every time I've attempted to use tipsy taxi, the number rings busy and cuts off. Tipsy taxi is nothing but a big fat joke.
Posted by: Adam | December 27, 2010 7:53 PM
Like I shilled in the past, feel free to jump in a cab on NYE and come to No Idea, we will pay for your cab*, meaning we will take it off your check. This way you can still enjoy your NYE and party 40 hours in a row!
http://www.facebook.com/#!/event.php?eid=174038929282041
Posted by: jason z | December 27, 2010 8:40 PM
I have never tried this but was going to take advantage of it this year. Maybe someone from the Sun can look into some of the comments above. It's a slow week, right?
Posted by: TS | December 28, 2010 9:40 AM
@TS - I really wouldn't recommend that, I've tried it several times, on NYE, july 4th, halloween etc and it's a FRAUD
my only advice would be to try calling around 10 or 11pm and maybe you'd have some luck.
The Sun should look into this - but Sessa never did despite numerous commenters calling it out as BS.
Posted by: Foo | December 28, 2010 11:24 AM
This is a total scam orchestrated by someone well above my pay-grade. I am going print out this flyer. And come NYE night, I am going to grab a Yellow Cab, tip the driver well and demand I not be charged for my ride. Let him call the cops--I will turn it into a PR nightmare.
Posted by: Andrew | December 29, 2010 12:19 AM
@andrew
don't be too down of yellow cab this is BS from the city & AAA. Maza if you want to earn our respect do what Sessa bothered to and expose this fraud for what it is.
*This requires actually going out to bars in baltimore past 2-am not some lame rave in DC. Sorry for the inconvenience
Posted by: foo | December 29, 2010 1:05 AM
@andrew,@foo: meant to post this earlier, but earlier this year, AAA responded to complaints about the service: http://weblogs.baltimoresun.com/news/traffic/2010/03/aaa_responds_to_tipsy_taxi_gri.html
But, Ill tell you Monday how my NYE ride went.
Posted by: Maza | December 29, 2010 9:02 PM
like all the other posts, it's a freakin sham. i called - several times - and no answer.
even if the practice were executed, say a cab shows up at a crowded bar in fed hill that i just called, you think no one is going to run up to it and jump in? is the cabbie going to politely say, "please exit my cab, someone called and is waiting for me"? or is he going to turn on the meter and drive away?
tipsy taxi needs to be investigated. i hope more comes of this.
Posted by: jtn | January 3, 2011 3:39 PM
I wonder how Erik's "NYE ride went"?
Posted by: paul | January 3, 2011 9:44 PM