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Tue May 01 @ 6:30PM

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SAFEride Cab Service Changes

Changes in SAFEride Cab Service coming in 2010

Beginning January 2, 2010, the maximum number of SAFEride cab trips will change from four per month to six per semester. Riders will be permitted to use SAFECab three times during the summer session.*

The SAFEride cab service is funded completely with student segregated fees, which are administered by the Student Services Finance Committee (SSFC) and ASM. Oversight of the policies and budget for SAFEride Cab is the responsibility of ASM’s Bus Pass Advisory Committee, which works on all student-funded transportation.

The SAFEride program is intended to be used only in the case of emergency and only when SAFEwalk escort services or SAFEbus services are unavailable or inappropriate for the situation.

We are very concerned about the safety of everyone on campus, and feel SAFEride is a very valuable program that should be continued. However, we’ve been following the data and have noticed a pattern of a small number of students using this service very frequently.

This has contributed to an unsustainable increase in the cost to operate this service. We are reducing the number of rides per semester in order to curb over-reliance on the program and control costs so SAFEride can be sustained into the future.

We are very concerned with your safety, so SAFEride cab service will continue as one option to be used if you are in a difficult situation. We urge you to continue to call SAFE Nighttime services at 262-5000 when you need assistance or advice on how to get home safely.

At the same time we want to make sure you are aware of the a number of alternatives to frequent use of SAFECab which we hope you will investigate. Here is a brief description of some of those alternative, with a list of contact information below.

SAFEBus Routes 81 and 82 operate from September through the middle of May until 1:30 am on weekdays and 3:30 on weekends.

SAFEWalk and the Route 80 operate 12 months a year.

Madison’s three cab companies run 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. They accept cash and credit cards. Some of them accept advanced reservations (“time calls”).

Badger Cab: http://www.badgercab.com/

Many of Madison Metro’s regular routes run from 5 or 6 a.m to 11 p.m. or midnight

Some of the University’s parking lots are open in the evening to non-permit holders.

Some restaurants and bars participate in the Tavern League’s SafeRide program which provides vouchers for emergency cab rides home to patrons. Speak to your server to see if their establishment participates in this program.

For More Information

UW Madison SAFE Nighttime Services: http://www2.fpm.wisc.edu/trans/safeservices.asp

Madison Metro: Schedules for all Madison Metro routes may be found at www.mymetrobus.com, or you can call their customer service line during business hours by dialing 266-4466. Metro also has a service that you can access via a smart phone or computer which will let you know when your bus is close to your stop. To set up that service see http://www.cityofmadison.com/metro/TransitTracker/TransitTracker.html

Tavern League SafeRide: http://www.tlw.org/public/saferide.shtml or talk to your server at your favorite establishments to see if they participate in this program

Madison Taxi: http://www.madtaxi.com/

Union Cab Coop: http://www.unioncab.com/

We appreciate your understanding as we try to conserve resources in these difficult economic times. If you have any questions please contact Michael Romenesko at mpromenesko (at) wisc (dot) edu

*For the purposes of this program the fall semester period will run from September 1 to December 31 each year; the spring semester will run from January 1 to May 31; the summer session will run from June 1 through August 31.