Ensuring Cascade County residents have a safe way to get home is the goal of one association.
The Cascade County Tavern Association started the Safe Ride Home Program in the early 1960’s.
Cascade County Tavern Association Director John Hays said the concept of the program is for people to go out and enjoy themselves while also having a way to get home safely.
“We enjoy having our customers come out,” Hays said. “When they leave the house, we want them to have a good plan on how they will be getting home.”
Hays said they do not want people hurting themselves or someone else after going out for a night.
All they have to do is ask the bartender to call a cab if they are unable to drive themselves home that evening.
“’I have a family member, here is a phone number, will you give them a call?’ Every single bar in this town will take care of you,” Hays said.
The program operates 365 days a year, but Hays said they will amp up operations for days like New Year’s Eve, St. Patty’s Day, and Super Bowl Sunday.
He added the program has been successful over the years.
Last New Year’s Eve, they gave about 700 people a safe alternative to get home.
“We do several hundred rides each month so there is a lot of people that use the program,” Hays said.
