Fireworks, Fares, and Fees: Getting Around on NYE 2014

O’Brian Gunn

Fireworks. Resolutions. Lavish Parties. Midnight escapades. Drunken fools on parade. All of the makings of a typical New Year’s Eve, right? Keep those auto insurance premiums low and your mugshot out of the Denver Police Department’s database by planning your transportation well in advance. You’ve got plenty of celebration options this New Year’s Eve and just as many transportation options.

“Somebody Order a Cab?”

Now, Uber! Now, Lyft! Now the taxi’s got me miffed! On, RTD! On, DD! You’ve got choices, so don’t be greedy! Denver is packed to the mile-high gills with transportation services for every price range and style.

If you aren’t familiar with Uber and Lyft, they’re car-hailing services that use your phone’s GPS to send a car to your location and drive you off to your next destination. (Uber.com & Lyft.com) Uber has several different vehicle options based on how many people are in your group and if you prefer a private driver. The UberX base price is $1 and $0.16 per minute along with a $1 safety fee.

Lyft’s base price starts out at $1.13 and $0.17 per minute and $1.14 per mile with a $1.50 “trust and safety” fee. To keep your brain from fizzling like a sparkler from so much math, you can calculate your fare before calling for a ride. Since New Year’s is such a busy night, prepare for Uber’s “surge” pricing and Lyft’s “Prime Time” pricing. The special pricing is reserved for times when everybody and their Uncle Felix is using a car-hailing service. Before you conjure up a Lyft or Uber ride, check to see whether you’ll have to pay more for transportation. This is one of those times where it’s good to have a designated reader in case you mistake that dollar sign for an emoticon. You certainly won’t be typing any smiley faces when you get charged $100 for a five-minute ride.

The Old Standbys

If you want to keep it traditional, you can always hail one of Denver’s many cabs … and hope they don’t breeze right by. Most cabs start out at about $2.50 for a base price and roughly $2 for every additional mile. There’s also RTD if you’re feeling adventurous and want to spread some New Year’s cheer to total strangers — who may or may not vomit all over your festive threads — and laugh about it. RTD busses and light rails are usually free on New Year’s from 7pm on New Year’s Eve until 6am on New Year’s Day, but make sure you check their website before you head out for the night.

If you plan on drinking lightly on New Year’s but find yourself stumbling and lurching up and down Colfax from “just one last drink,” there are designated driver services like BeMyDD. (BeMyDD.com) Pickup services start out at $25 plus mileage. Not as cheap as a taxi or car-hailing service, but cheaper than a DUI, which brings us to …

“Officer, Is There Something Wrong?”

Those dazzling lights in your rearview mirror aren’t fireworks — they’re what might turn out to be the bitter beginnings of a $600 – $1,000 DUI fine, jail time, alcohol education, and a license revocation. That $25 BeMyDD fee is starting to sound like a $25 bargain. Once your license has been revoked, you’ll have to pay $95 to have it reinstated. Start the new year in style, not in prison stripes.

New Year’s Eve is all about having choices and making choices. No matter where you decide to go, make sure you arrive safe and sound. Happy New Year, Out Front fam.