Free bus rides offered for New Years Eve

MILWAUKEE -- New Years Eve is this Saturday, and many plan to ring in 2012 with celebration, but if you expect to drink, it's a good idea to start planning ahead. For the 24th year, the MillerCoors is teaming up with the Milwaukee County Transit System, offering a program that will allow someone else to do the driving on New Years Eve.

All bus rides are free on Saturday, starting at 8:00 p.m. in Milwaukee County, and 7:00 p.m. in Waukesha County. The program allows for free bus rides through the Milwaukee County Transit System, the Waukesha County Metro Transit System, and in Madison, Minneapolis and Chicago. "We're encouraging everybody to ride the bus on New Year's Eve. Thanks to MillerCoors, all rides are free, and it's really easy to do. All you have to do is call 1-800-FREE-RIDES, or go to MillerLiteFreeRides.com for information on which bus to take," Jacqueline Janz with the Milwaukee County Transit System said.

Bus riders can get on and off buses as many times as they'd like, and the free rides go through the end of regular service, with the exception of 13 routes that have extended service until 4:00 a.m.

MillerCoors says they're happy to sponsor the program, in an effort to curb drinking and driving on New Years Eve. "Drunk driving, we believe, is 100 percent preventable. We think this is one option to provide to our consumers - the chance to get home safely if they've been drinking. There's many other ways: designated drivers, taking a cab, staying overnight in a hotel," MillerCoors General Manager Jim Wright said.

Many of the bus routes will be servicing holidya destinations, including restaurants, bars and local events. In the 24 years of the program, MillerCoors has provided 2.75 million free rides, and that's just in Milwaukee.

For additional details, visit MillerLiteFreeRides.com, or click here for Milwaukee County Transit System route information.