I saw this article on lebomag.com. new uptown shuttle service I have mixed emotions about this and thought I would throw it out there to Lebo Citizens readers. I keep thinking about how, especially when the service is free on Thursdays since it is sponsored by a vodka company, that it could encourage SUI (Shuttle Under the Influence). People get in trouble for walking under the influence.
Parking cars in the South Garage costs them $1 per car.
ReplyDeleteEveryone else pays at least double.
http://triblive.com/neighborhoods/alleghenyneighborhoods/alleghenyneighborhoodsmore/3357177-74/valet-service-lebanon
This cozy arrangement will cause parking to be tighter, and puts pedestrians and bicyclists at more risk of injury or death.
http://triblive.com/news/allegheny/3744539-74/parking-state-tri
If it doesn't cost taxpayers money and denies the Mt. Lebo Police the ability to harass people making the smart decision and walking home instead of driving, then I'm all for it. I hope it really takes off.
ReplyDeleteJust as the commission meeting was ending last night, three or four police cars had cornered Bistro 19. They cuffed and hauled off a man and a woman who had a little too much of something. Will this shuttle service encourage more of that?
ReplyDeleteDoes anyone know if this is a round trip service? I would hope so or else how would they get home?
Elaine
Question. The City owns the garages. Why is the Magazine advertising this service?
ReplyDeleteElaine, good thing nobody was holding up rifle ammunistion during the commission meeting while all the police were up the street.
ReplyDeleteNot sure how the valet service works, but I hope they collected the fee before parking. They didn't get a tip from that couple.
I don't get it, is being so inebriated that someone has to take your home "Lebo cool?"
ReplyDeleteBeing able to drink at school, youth sporting events and fundraisers the new sign of success. As in you've got so much money not only can you drink yourself into a drunken stupor many nights a week, you can afford to have someone chargers you home?
No wonder we need Outreach!
Hope the valet service didn't deliver their car and hand them the keys if they were that out of control!
ReplyDelete11:14 correction: You can afford to have someone [charge you $20 to drive] you home?
ReplyDeleteIf the-- "Brewfest Fundraiser, which proceeds benefitted Outreach (and had the side benefit of bringing a number of young people to Mt. Lebanon from throughout the region-- a real estate agent's dream)"-- is true, then the couple mention above, if not from MTL, should be paid dirt for some hustling real estate agent that monitors the police radios.
ReplyDeleteThat's not a slight to the Memorial fundraiser, but rather on the idiotic rational that a Brewfest is an agent's dream real estate marketing idea. What nitwit ever came up with that correlation?
Here's an idea that will really attract young people, put a free beer tap in the Commons. You'll have more young people than the real estate agents could possibly handle.
Here's an idea, want to get more people involved in school board and commissioner meetings.
ReplyDeleteMake them Happy Hours, half priced drinks, chips and salsa, $0.10 wings, and a cheap ride home... they'll be turning people away at the door!
I think this is a good service. You have to make a reservation ahead of time but I suspect you might be able to call that same night.
ReplyDeleteI have no problem with bartenders at the Saloon, Walnut Grill, Il Piz, Bistro telling a too-drunk customer that they can get a cheap ride home...assuming they live in one of the serviced communities.
It's classier than, and about as expensive as, a cab ride home- especially for a group of people.
We'll see if they get a brisk enough business to make it worth their while.
And to those that will say that this service will simply encourage people to drink more...please. It's like saying knowing a cab company exists will make people drink more.
2:02 by all means it is a good service. Anything that takes drivers that may be impaired from too much drink off the road is a good thing.
ReplyDeleteThe police blotter proves that in that anyone of the DUIs listed was... how did Commissioner Linfante refer to deer... a potential catastrophe.
But to wave away a case that it may encourage alcohol consumption is no more simplistic than going ballistic over someone holding up a bullet in council chambers and associating that with gun violence.
Of course it encourages alcohol consumption, why would a distillery sponsor it? Think they want people to drink less?
Going for the evening The responsible person is congnicent or should be, how many drinks they can have and still drive home.
By receiving a shuttle ahead of time they're admitting I'm drinking above the legal limit for driving.
You're right the service is a good thing, but it does encourage drinking.
It does not to stop alcoholism, the mean drunk etc.
9:37,
ReplyDeleteWhen I read this article I had the same reaction, "Why is MtL advertising this service?"
Someone can correct me if I am wrong but I don't think that there is any "process" or written policy in place governing the selection of the content for MtL.
So, how does PIO Susan select these people? How does PIO Susan know which former residents she wants to highlight? Where did she meet them? How did she meet them? What is their relationship to Mt Lebanon? What is her relationship with them? Are there any patterns?
Should one person to have sole control over the content of a publication that represents all of us?
Any thoughts?
I am getting mixed messages. The people who demonized me over the PBT/Outreach drama are the very same people who are promoting a designated driver program. You can't have it both ways, ladies.
ReplyDeleteElaine
I don't think that it is just a Designated driver program. It could be for seniors who don't drive, or for those who have mobility problems.
ReplyDelete4:53, ask if she is receiving free Penguin tickets ?
ReplyDelete8:48 are there a lot of seniors or people ith mobility problems that are looking for shuttle service from uptown between the hours of 5 pm to 3am?
ReplyDeleteI believe there were already transportation programs in place for the groups you mention.
As Elaine started this topic... it's perhaps a great idea to keep drivers under the influence off the road. On the other hand it is a shame we need it and not sure it makes things better or worse.
Seniors go in groups for those early bird specials starting at 4:30. They won't be paying 20 bucks for a ride.
ReplyDeleteCorrect me if I'm wrong, but valet service doesn't make the customer a passenger in any vehicle driven be the valet.
ReplyDeleteThe same thing goes for disabled people. The valet parking spot is not a disabled spot, and the valet does not transport the disabled people themselves. Actually, disabled people can park farther away at the Academy lot and use a motorized scooter to move around with ease.
The only DUI prevention is the distance from the parking spot to the parking garage, and the drunk person could have parked in the exact same spot if there was no valet service available. I seriously doubt if any valet performs a breathalyzer test on a customer before giving them back their keys. I also doubt is valets have to submit to a similar test at anytime during their shift.
The bigger concern is the background of the car jockeys.
Who is checking them?