Getting Folks Home Safely: Yorktown Officials and Owners of a Local Night Spot Work on Transportation Alternatives

Every weekend in Yorktown, adults of all ages crowd  local taverns to meet up with friends, relax after a tiring work week or enjoy a few days off from school.

They have one thing in common—all stress out about how they are going to get home after a long night without running the risk of getting in an accident or being slammed with a DWI.

"There are quite a bit of arrests," said Lt. Kevin Soravilla, spokesperson for Yorktown police. "They go across the age spectrum—21-29, 30s, 40s, and 50s."

Now Supervisor Susan Siegel and town board members are considering working with the Westchester Taxi and Limousine Commission to boost the safety of all residents with a town-regulated taxi service.

The link would help institute a cab service in Yorktown and for those coming from other areas.

The county commission would handle driver background checks and regulate cab safety and maintenance.

"We're delighted [Westchester Taxi and Limo Commission] came to us with this idea," said Siegel. "For the safety and protection of our residents, we want to make sure if someone needs a taxi, the driver meets our requirements."

The board and the commission are not the first to take steps to curb drunk driving. In September 2009, the Inn at Southside Grille created a shuttle bus system.

The van will pick up passengers over the age of 21 from their homes. Those wishing to use the service can call the driver to make reservations for trips to either the Southside's location in Yorktown or its sister company in Mahopac—and back home at the end of the night. There is no cost for the service, but tips are encouraged as the drivers work on gratuity only.

"Since we started, we've had a minimum of 700 people using it to go to and from both Yorktown and Mahopac Southside," said co-owner Wendy Wulkan.

Wulkan began to get the ball rolling because she and her business partner, Marc Anthony, were worried about patrons driving dangerously when they left the bar.

"We like sleeping well at night knowing that people are safe at our establishment," said Wulkan.

The shuttle-bus business runs through word of mouth, and it has developed a loyal customer base of those who have come to make its usage part of their safe evening routines. 

Kelley Wright, a frequenter of Southside's both locations for past years, couldn't say enough about how great the amenity is for the community.

"I love that the shuttle is available for young adults who want to be responsible," she said. "I have ridden it before, and it is so convenient that there's no reason to have to drink and drive."

"I feel more comfortable going to a bar with shuttle transportation than to one that doesn't," 21-year-old Cristina Zegarelli said. 

Now that school is back in session and a lot of the younger set has gone away, it is not just the college kids taking advantage of Southside's shuttle.

"We have happy hour people coming from work, or when we have special occasions at the bar, like a band playing," Wulkan said.

The bar owners hope their shuttle bus service can stir up double the revenue made in its first year as more people remember there's an alternative to turning the keys in the ignition after too many cocktails.

"As long as people use the system of [transportation availability] and are aware of it, a service would reduce the situation with drinking and driving," Soravilla said.

The shuttle can be contacted at 845-490-2029. It runs Friday through Saturday from the opening of the bar until closing time. 

There is currently one van available, which accommodates six to eight people. The number of people who use the service on a weekend varies; typically there are between 15 to 30 a night.