Lyft Replaces Free Cab Rides For St. Patrick’s Day In Montgomery County

SILVER SPRING, MD — While many people are excited to celebrate Saint Patrick's Day, don't risk your life or others when partying in Montgomery County. Residents can use the popular and free safe ride service SoberRide, which as of Thursday will now be solely available via the Lyft mobile app ridesharing platform.

Officials with the nonprofit Washington Regional Alcohol Program (WRAP) announced a partnership with the ridesharing service Lyft to provide WRAP’s SoberRide service in the Washington-metropolitan area through 2017.

This anti-drunk driving collaboration will kick off on Saint Patrick's Day. Lyft will provide SoberRide trips to would-be drunk drivers throughout the Greater Washington area beginning on Saint Patrick's Day at 4 p.m. Friday, March 17. Free rides will continue until 4 a.m. Saturday, March 18.

This is a way to keep local roads safe from impaired drivers during a traditionally high-risk period. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, one-in-four U.S. traffic deaths during the 2015 St. Patrick’s Day holiday involved drunk drivers.

Montgomery County residents age 21 or older celebrating with alcohol can download Lyft to their phones, then enter the code SOBERRIDE in the app's 'Promo' section to receive their no cost (up to $20 fare) safe transportation home. The SoberRide code is valid for both new and existing Lyft users.

While SoberRide provides a free cab ride home up to a $20 fare, callers must pay for any fare over $20.

In addition to Lyft’s provision of WRAP’s SoberRides this year, the ridesharing service will be donating $1 to the nonprofit organization WRAP for each new Lyft customer using the SoberRide code in 2017.

“We are excited to partner with WRAP in providing safe, reliable transportation to area residents,” said Steve Taylor, General Manager of Lyft’s DC area office hub in Arlington, Virginia. “Lyft is committed to improving access to transportation and reducing drunk driving.”

Before SoberRide partnered with Lyft, residents used to have to call an 800 number to receive a free cab ride home.

SoberRide is offered throughout Lyft’s Washington, D.C. coverage area which includes all or parts of: the District of Columbia; the Maryland counties of Montgomery and Prince George’s; and the Northern Virginia counties of Arlington, Fairfax, Loudoun and Prince William.

Since 1993, WRAP has provided 66,296 safe rides home in the Washington area. SoberRide operates during the December/January holiday season, St. Patrick’s Day, Cinco de Mayo, Independence Day and Halloween.

Photo: Shutterstock