Nov 8, 2009 10:00 am US/Central
Florida Company Helps Iowa Students Make It Home
IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) ―
A Florida company is offering University of Iowa students another option for getting home.
The company, University Cab Cash, is working with Iowa City-based Yellow Cab to issue debit cards to students that they can use to catch rides. Money can be added to the cards online, then riders swipe the cards to pay a fare.
The company offers the service on about 50 campus areas nationwide and launched the effort at Iowa this summer. The area near the Iowa campus has had repeated problems with late-night assaults, prompting police and some business owners to increase patrols.
University of Iowa junior Jenny Schuelke is among the 200 or so who have signed up for the program. She mentioned the program to her mother, who quickly enrolled her daughter.
"My mom always said if I ever needed a ride, she would pay for a cab. She basically wants me to be safe so she doesn't have to worry," Schuelke said. "You don't have to worry about driving. If you are out with your friends, you don't have to worry, 'How are we going to get home?' This way, everyone gets home safely."
Although the service is aimed at students, company president Jason Willoughby said it's parents who usually make arrangements.
"Parents are really the ones that purchase it," Willoughby said. "I think they see it as (being) able to isolate funds for a specific use, and that is an easy way home. ... For parents, it gives them peace of mind."
Although Iowa provides free rides to women through a program call Nite Ride, some students have said vehicles are often full and there can be long waits.
Yellow Cab accounts manager Roger Bradley said the company has been pleased with the new service.
"We've had some very good success so far," Bradley said. "A key element to the program is to keep students out of their own cars. If students have the card, they have no reason not to call us or flag down one of our taxis and use our services."
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Information from: Iowa City Press-Citizen, http://www.press-citizen.com/
(© 2009 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
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