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Plenty Of Safe Alternatives To Driving Home After Celebrating New Year

(CBS) -- So how are all those party-goers, many celebrating with strong drink, planning to get home?

CBS 2's Mike Parker reports staggering to the car should not be an option, there are other ways to do it and they're safe.

From 10 p.m. Wednesday to 4:00 a.m. Thursday, 150,000 riders are expected to hop on CTA buses and trains. It won't cost riders a dime or even a penny. The mayor calls that a "responsible transportation option for revelers."

"We're going to take the CTA. It'll be free so it's nice," said Geeya Patel, who planned on taking the CTA home.

The Miller Brewing Company is covering the cost of every ride.

"Taking the CTA won't be too bad, but there'll probably be a lot of drunks," said Jacob Aynessazian.

Better they're on public transit than on the roads. No free rides on the city's taxi cabs, you'll pay full fare.

You'll pay even more than the normal rate to ride in those trendy Uber cars. Uber tells us to expect what they call "surge" rates of double fares or possibly higher between midnight and 2 a.m.

In southwest suburban Palos Park, local police will take you safely home if you're feeling too drunk to drive. Just call them at 708-448-2191 or 708-259-1035.

"If you don't take advantage of the program and you decide to drink and drive, you're probably going to go to jail," said Palos Park Police Sergeant John Sawyer.

Palos Park police wanted us to remind you they won't pick you up under the influence at one party and drop you off at another one.

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