Members of UF's Student Senate promoted an effort Tuesday to help students at the nation's No.1 party school get home safe.
Gator Ride, a student-run organization that aims to shepherd students home after a night on the town to prevent drunken driving, is set to begin operating on Oct. 18, said Sen. Steven Reiss of the senate's Student Safety Committee.
The service will run Thursday through Saturday, from 10 p.m. to 3 a.m.
It is free, but a donation jar will be in the cars.
"I'm sure that nobody would have a problem donating 2 or 3 dollars as opposed to taking a taxi, which is a pain," Reiss said.
Gator Ride will provide transportation from any bar or club in Gainesville to any residence in Gainesville - just not to another bar or club, Reiss said.
"They don't want to be associated with facilitating college students in their ever-going desire to drink," Reiss said.
To use the service, a student must show his or her Gator1 card to prove he or she is a UF student.
The organization will have three rented cars adorned with identifying stickers, all rented from Enterprise. Each vehicle will have a male and female student from the program present.
All of the drivers in the program will be given instruction on basic first aid and taught how to respond to emergencies such as alcohol poisoning, according to a document from Sen. Ryan O'Mara.
