Students at Coastal Carolina University have started a Smart Ride transportation program to encourage students to make smarter choices about drinking and driving. The student-led group has established partnerships with 12 area taxi companies to provide discounted or flat rates to students, according to CCU's Student Government Association (SGA).

"There are also lots of out-of-state kids who don't have cars," says Taylor Eubanks, SGA executive vice president. "This will provide them with safe and affordable transportation to and from the airport, to Broadway at the Beach, wherever they need to go."

The Smart Ride project was created by SGA in cooperation with the University's Alcohol Coalition. The program closely reflects the goals of CCU's Smart Choice campaign, a campuswide initiative that encourages students to make responsible life decisions.

SGA has been working on the program for about two years, says SGA President Dan Jolles. Response from the companies and from students has been overwhelmingly positive, he says. Three of the cab companies – Broadway Cab, Carolina Forest Taxi and City Cab – offer a $25 flat rate for students to and from the airport and/or Broadway at the Beach. The others offer a 20 percent discount on fares.

"If several students ride together, it reduces the fee considerably," says Eubanks. SGA has hopes of ultimately securing free rides for students.

To publicize the program to students, SGA workers are handing out Smart Ride cards with names and numbers of the cab companies and their rates. Student riders will have to show a student ID to get the special rates.

Participating cab services are: A-Taxi, Anchor Taxi, Atlantic Cab, Beachside Cab, Broadway Cab, Carolina Forest Taxi, City Cab, Diamond Cab, Myrtle Beach Cab, Ocean Side Taxi, Resort Transportation and Rock Star Taxi.