GREAT FALLS – Making sure 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 says the concept of the program is that they want people to go out and enjoy themselves but also have a way to get home safely.
“We enjoy having our customers some out, when they leave the house we want them to have a good plan on how they will be getting home,” Hays says.
Hays says they do not people getting hurt themselves or hurt someone else after going out for a night,
All people have to do is ask the bartender to call them a cab if they are unable to drive themselves home that evening.
“I have got 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 says.
The program operates 365 days a year but Hays says they will amp up operations for days like New Year’s Eve, St. Patty’s Day and Super Bowl Sunday.
Hays says the program has been successful over the years.
Last New Year’s Eve, they were able to give 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.
Reporting by Margaret DeMarco for MTN News
