The JOYRIDE tool kit was originally funded by the National Center for Alcohol Policy with support from the Minnesota Beer Wholesalers Association. It was designed to help rural communities establish safe ride alternative transportation programs.
Twin Ports Joyride began in January 2014.
In the first year there were over 200 rides given. On average, there has been 500 given a year.
Bars that participate in the Twin Ports JOYRIDE program purchase vouchers that allow their patrons a $7 discount off a cab ride home. Bar owners contribute $4 and donations contribute $3 towards the $7 voucher. If the cab ride home goes over $7, the patron would pay the remainder.
Corporate (Rohlfing, Michaud, Superior Beverage, Bernicks and MLBA) and private donations sustains the program.
Duluth/Superior Cab Companies – Yellow Cab, Bayside Taxi, and Courtesy Cab
Cloquet Cab Company – Clouqet City Cab
Impaired driving makes Southern St. Louis County one of the “Deadliest 13” counties in Minnesota. JOYRIDE is designed to help reduce impaired driving crashes, injuries, deaths, and arrests.
State JOYRIDE programs have lead to a 35-55% decrease in DWI’s over the past five years. For example, in Wright County they had 480 DWI’s in 2010, and in 2015 they dropped 37% to 303 DWI’s.
On average, Duluth has 1000 DWI’s in a year, almost three a day. Our goal is to have JOYRIDE offered at every bar and restaurant so patrons can pre-plan their rides home or take advantage of this service if they drink too much.
Changing community norms and attitudes about impaired driving does not happen overnight. In other rural communities, safe ride programs have taken several years to be successful. We need local and community support during these initial years to reach the point of sustainability.
When a business needs more JOYRIDE vouchers please email drvng4@gmail.com, message us on Facebook, pay through PALPAL on our website (coming soon) or call 218.450.4028.
Allison Nicolson
Driving 4 Safe Communities Coalition Coordinator
131 Ninth Ave.
Proctor, MN 55810
Phone: (218) 786-4554
Email: drvng4@gmail.com