This Wichita suburb is offering free Uber or Lyft vouchers to concert-goers
A $30,000 grant is funding one Wichita suburb’s goal of promoting responsible driving by offering ride vouchers to concertgoers this season.
People attending select Capitol Federal Amphitheater concerts in Andover could get $20 Uber and Lyft ride vouchers from the concert in the city’s push to target impaired driving.
“(We’re) looking to target one of the most preventable causes of traffic fatalities, which is impaired driving after large public events,” said Jolene Graham, Andover’s assistant city administrator.
Graham said she applied for the Kansas Department of Transportation grant after the opportunity was brought to her attention by the city administrator. $12,500 of the grant will go to ride vouchers while the remaining amount will fund educational materials surrounding the risks of driving under the influence.
“These grants fund education enforcement and outreach efforts specifically aimed at reducing traffic deaths and serious injuries,” Graham said.
“We’ve done some radio spots, billboard spots, and then just the printing of materials themselves.”
The campaign — called Concert Vibes, Safe Rides — is a city partnership with Andover’s Capitol Federal Amphitheater, Uber and Lyft. Here’s what to know about the vouchers this summer.
How to receive a voucher
There are two ways to receive a voucher.
First, when purchasing a ticket, concertgoers will have the option of pre-planning their Uber or Lyft ride.
Additionally, signs with a QR code will be placed throughout the venue.
“If people attend a concert or an event and become too impaired to drive, they can use that QR code to go ahead and take advantage of the voucher program right in the moment,” Graham said.
The QR code will lead them to the Uber and Lyft codes that concertgoers will enter into the app to receive a voucher.
During the first concert of the program, the vouchers were offered at $10, but there were no participants.
“Because so many of our concertgoers come from outside of Andover, the cost to get a ride is much more than $10 and so it didn’t probably seem feasible,” Graham said.
Since then, the city has upped the value to $20. Graham said the city is still trying to find the “sweet spot” when it comes to value.
What concerts can I use vouchers at?
Here’s a list of the remaining concerts where vouchers are available, from Andover’s website:
- Sawyer Brown & Lonestar: Friday, June 26
- Audacy Summer Concert Series: Friday, July 10
- Audacy Summer Concert Series: Friday, July 17
- Audacy Summer Concert Series: Friday, July 24
- Audacy Summer Concert Series: Friday, July 31
- Ty Myers: Saturday, September 5
- Ole 60: Friday, October 9
Graham said that this is the first program of its kind.
“We’re really making an effort to reach as many people as we can to try to change their minds,” Graham said. “This is a brand new program of its kind, and so we’re really hoping that we can demonstrate success.”
