"It's a no-brainer, especially if you are going to multiple bars," Simons said. "We just plan. If we are going out to party, then we will call ahead … Otherwise you're waiting an hour at least for a taxi to show."
Birckhead started the business, which charges a flat $20 per destination fee, about eight months ago. Using either his BMW or a conversion van to fit large groups, Birckhead works on an on-call basis after he leaves his day job as an electrician and often works into the early morning hours on weekends.
"The normal time off is 3 a.m.," Birckhead said. "I might get a straggler at 4:30 a.m."
Anytime he receives a call, he'll respond even if it means dragging himself out of bed to do so.
Birckhead said he has had several friends injured and even killed in drunk driving accidents and has been taking friends to and from bars as the designated driver for a long time to avoid seeing it happen again. After giving rides for free, he began to wonder if the concept would work as a business and wanted to give it a try.
The personalized, late night business is unique to Bowie. A Yellow Pages search turned up dozens of taxi services in Prince George's County, but Bowie Taxi Service was the only company based in the Bowie area. A representative reached by phone said the company does not operate between the hours of 1 and 4 a.m. weekdays.
On busy nights, Birckhead, 35, said he may shuttle up to eight people out and back and may call in a business associate if he gets too many calls at once. While bar-goers he encounters seem to embrace the concept, he said in practice it is tough to sell someone a safe ride home.
"Sober, it sounds like a good idea to them," he said. "But they are not used to it so they are comfortable with doing it the old way."
To customers like Crofton resident Michael Martin, the shuttle service is exactly the kind of business the suburban area needs because there are few transportation options.
"I think what [Birckhead's] finding out is a lot of people want to be responsible and have responsibilities but when they drink, they don't think," Martin said.
Like Simons, Martin also calls Birckhead to request rides to and from bars when he goes out. Before using the service, he often relied on friends as designated drivers, but after an incident several months ago when he was cited for driving while intoxicated after his designated driver backed out, he only relies on Birckhead.
"You could use the service one night a week, out and back, for six years before you would pay for a DWI," Martin said of the experience.
Birckhead admits the business is more a labor of love than a money-making opportunity, as his revenues just cover the cost of gas. To let residents know about the shuttle service, Birckhead often hangs out at local bars to pass out fliers to bar patrons and bar owners.
"Most of the bar owners and even the bartenders will refer people to me when they see it is needed," he said. "I wish more people would think about taking responsibility for themselves."
To request a shuttle from Save A Life, call 240-424-8276.
E-mail Andrea Noble at anoble@gazette.net.
