'Celebrate responsibly:' Miller Lite Free Rides on all MCTS routes on New Year's Eve for 32nd year

Miller Lite Free Rides on all MCTS routes on New Year`s Eve for 32nd year

MILWAUKEE -- For the 32nd consecutive year, Miller Lite partnered with the Milwaukee County Transit System and Beer Capitol Distributing to encourage members of the community to celebrate responsibly and let MCTS be their designated driver on New Year’s Eve.

On Monday, Dec. 30, the eve of New Year's Eve, Victor Bass got his bus ready for the day -- gearing up for another busy holiday week.

"You just drive, and everything else should be OK," said Bass.

Victor Bass

Bass, an MCTS driver for 10 years, said he's seen his share of NYE nights.

"It was fun. It was new," said Bass. "It was just something to help people out, you know?"

Miller Lite Free Rides will provide safe and free rides on all MCTS routes starting at 8 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 31 until end of regular service. Several popular bus routes -- the GreenLine, BlueLine, PurpleLine, and Routes 14, 15, 19, 30 will have extended service until 4 a.m. The GoldLine will extend service to Brookfield Square Mall until 3 a.m. Two routes, Routes 14 and 19, will have limited extended service. Route 14 will extend service all the way to 74th Street and Holmes Avenue, and Route 19 will extend service only on S. 13th Street.

"We know a lot of people are going to be going out to ring in the New Year, to celebrate," said Matt Sliker, MCTS spokesman. "The most important thing is just that they do so responsibly."

Bass said it's just part of his job to help.

"It's a great feeling. I feel like I'm giving back, you know?" said Bass. "I'm part of the solution here, you know?"

MCTS officials said the Miller Lite Free Rides program has provided more than 553,000 safe rides to residents and visitors of Milwaukee since the program began locally in 1988. The Free Rides program has provided more than 6.7 million people in 28 communities safe rides as part of an ongoing commitment to helping consumers celebrate responsibly. The program encourages partygoers to have good taste and not drink and drive.

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