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While safe transportation to and from the bars is a priority all year-long, this month, it’s even easier to let someone else do the driving, thanks to Breckenridge Brewery’s Free Ride February campaign. The anti-drunk-driving initiative is sponsored by several partners—Breckenridge Brewery, the Tavern League of Colorado, and TrueSync Media (a provider of tailored TV services)—in conjunction with Lyft.
Here’s how it works: Each Friday throughout February, bar-goers can download free Lyft ride codes, which are good for any ride up to $10 to 31 participating bars in neighborhoods throughout Denver—from RiNo to Congress Park—as well as surrounding areas like Westminster, Golden, Littleton, and Boulder. The first code will be released on Friday, February 1, and one code can be redeemed via the Lyft app per person, per week, throughout the month.
Garrett Ladd, a member of the Tavern League of Colorado and owner of ‘Bout Time Pub & Grub, which has locations in Arvada and Denver, helped spearhead the conversations between sponsors and participating locations in order to get this initiative off the ground. “We’re putting money toward a direct solution and addressing the problem [of drunk driving] before it starts,” says Ladd. “It’s a good deal for everyone.”
If you’re wondering if calling a ride is worth it, consider this: In recent years, the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) has cracked down on drunk driving. Local law enforcement arrested 259 under-the-influence drivers last year in Denver during Super Bowl weekend alone. Not only is it less safe to drive during big events like the Super Bowl, but there is also an environmental component. According to CDOT traffic logs, there is an increase of cars on the road during the Super Bowl, which leads to a surge in CO2 emissions. According to data from the EPA and CDOT, Colorado’s CO2 emissions from transportation sources have been increasing in recent years, with passenger cars having the highest percentage of greenhouse gas emissions within the transportation sector.
So this month, leave your car at home. Call a Lyft, have a beer (or two), and relax: Your fellow drivers—and the planet—will thank you.
Swap out your keys for Lyfts to any of the following participating pubs:
- Bout Time Pub & Grub, 3580 S Platte River Drive, Sheridan
- Bout Time Pub & Grub, 5225 W 80th Ave., Arvada
- British Bulldog, 2052 Stout St.
- Clancy’s Irish Pub, 7000 West 38th Ave., Wheat Ridge
- College Inn, 4400 8th Ave.
- Dog & Pony, 2340 S Chambers Road, Aurora
- Dog Haus, 8316 Northfield Blvd.
- Doghouse Tavern, 3100 S Sheridan Blvd.
- Don’s Club Tavern, 723 E 6th Ave.
- Duggan’s Public House, 11940 Bradburn Blvd.
- Farm House at Breckenridge Brewery, 2990 Brewery Lane, Littleton
- Four Barrel BBQ, 7702 Ralston Road, Arvada
- Gibby’s, 1555 S Havana St. Unit W, Aurora
- Giggling Grizzly, 1320 20th St.
- Icehouse Tavern, 1801 Wynkoop St.
- Lazy Dog, 1346 Pearl St., Boulder
- Lazy Dog, 3100 Village Vista Drive, Erie
- Legends Sports Grill, 13690 E Iliff Ave., Aurora
- Lucky Mutt, 5500 S Simms St., Littleton
- Midwestern Saloon, 3961 Tennyson St.
- Old Man Bar, 4381 W 120th Ave., Broomfield
- Pilfer’s, 11353 W Colfax Ave., Lakewood
- Spot Bar, 111 N Rubey Drive, Golden
- The Elm, 5001 E Colfax Ave.
- The Pioneer, 2401 S University Blvd.
- The Whittier, 2000 E 28th Ave.
- Three Dogs, 3390 W 32nd Ave.
- Three Lions, 2239 E Colfax Ave.
- Ugly Dog, 1345 Cortez St.
- Varsity Inn, 7500 S University Blvd., Centennial
- Will Call, 3043 Brighton Blvd.
- Wyman’s No. 5, 2033 E 13th Ave.