Free emergency taxi service being planned for UI students

IOWA CITY - University of Iowa Student Government (UISG) is looking to offer free cab rides to students.

As part of the “Wingman Safety Campaign,” UISG is seeking to partner with a local company and fund two free emergency cab rides for any student each semester, said UISG Vice President Brittany Caplin.

Caplin said student leaders have wanted to make sure students have safe rides home, particularly late at night.

Partnering with a company that already operates fleets of cars seems like the least inexpensive route, Caplin said. Other options would include purchasing a bus or expanding Nite Ride, a limited free minibus service for women.

Bill Searls, associate director of University of Iowa Police, has said Nite Ride wouldn't be extended to men because it was specifically designed in response to several sexual harassment incidents.

“It supplements Nite Ride beautifully,” Searls said of the UISG idea, which has recently gone to the UI's purchasing department for prospective cab vendors to bid on, Caplin said.

The only stipulation, Caplin stressed, is a cabdriver would give just one or two emergency rides to students going home or to the hospital. If students abuse that, they would be banned from the program, by way of a record-keeping system monitored by a cab dispatcher and a student safety advocate.

Caplin said UISG has “no idea” how much this venture will cost, but added: “This would be a huge account for any cab company.” She also said UISG would handle advertising.

The group is projecting the number of those taking part shouldn't be greater than Nite Ride, which Searls said 1,778 people used last month. UISG also is exploring ways to get discounted fares to students who have used up their free rides.