Designated driver service an option for drinkers on St. Patrick’s Day
Date Posted:
Thu, Mar 13 2014,
San Francisco Examiner
Years ago, Alexa Milkovich and Arthur Simanovsky got tired of having to flip a coin with their friends to figure out who would be the designated driver on a night of drinking.
Then an idea popped into their heads: “Why don’t we come up with a service to subcontract drivers and have them drive your car?” Milkovich said. On St. Patrick’s Day four years ago, she and Simanovksy co-founded BeMyDD, a ride service with the slogan, “We drive your car, so you don’t have to.”
The Cleveland-based startup has expanded to 74 cities including San Francisco, which is one of its largest markets.
Not all, but most reservations received “are for those who are going to be consuming alcohol,” Milkovich said.
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St. Patrick’s Day and other popular drinking holidays are BeMyDD’s busiest times.
The most popular service is the designated driver option, in which drivers meet with customers and drive their vehicles for them after an outing.
Alternatively, the personal driver option entails the BeMyDD driver taking customers both to and from their destinations. The designated and personal driver services cost $25 for pickup plus $3.45 or $2.95 per mile, or $17.50 an hour, respectively. Customers are advised to book ahead of time, as about 50 drivers are stationed in San Francisco.
Drivers do not card customers, Milkovich said.
“Either way, if they’ve been drinking, it’s probably good that they call our drivers to take them in their car home,” she said, noting that background checks are conducted for drivers. “Obviously, we don’t want to turn anybody away if they’ve been consuming alcohol. We just want to get them home, that’s why we don’t ask.”
Then an idea popped into their heads: “Why don’t we come up with a service to subcontract drivers and have them drive your car?” Milkovich said. On St. Patrick’s Day four years ago, she and Simanovksy co-founded BeMyDD, a ride service with the slogan, “We drive your car, so you don’t have to.”
The Cleveland-based startup has expanded to 74 cities including San Francisco, which is one of its largest markets.
Not all, but most reservations received “are for those who are going to be consuming alcohol,” Milkovich said.
Find nearby stories
PointsMentioned MapNews Bayou
St. Patrick’s Day and other popular drinking holidays are BeMyDD’s busiest times.
The most popular service is the designated driver option, in which drivers meet with customers and drive their vehicles for them after an outing.
Alternatively, the personal driver option entails the BeMyDD driver taking customers both to and from their destinations. The designated and personal driver services cost $25 for pickup plus $3.45 or $2.95 per mile, or $17.50 an hour, respectively. Customers are advised to book ahead of time, as about 50 drivers are stationed in San Francisco.
Drivers do not card customers, Milkovich said.
“Either way, if they’ve been drinking, it’s probably good that they call our drivers to take them in their car home,” she said, noting that background checks are conducted for drivers. “Obviously, we don’t want to turn anybody away if they’ve been consuming alcohol. We just want to get them home, that’s why we don’t ask.”