Zingo: Cab-Alternative Designated Driver Service

Augusta, GA—“It’s new. It’s novel. It’s unusual,“ says Zingo Augusta co-owner Turner Simkins.

And, it’s an alternative to a taxi. “A cab you leave your car. It’s a safe way to get home, but then again, you have to go get your car, the next day. The grapevine tends to kick in pretty strong with Zingo. “It’s a responsible way to get home.“

Here’s how Zingo works: The designated driver service has fifteen 60-pound Di Blasi ready to roll out of their Central Avenue headquarters. Zingo drivers are dispatched on a scooter to the person who needs a way home, they then pack up their ride into your ride. The fold-up process takes less than thirty seconds.

Zingo drives the customer home in their vehicle, parks it and leaves on two-wheels.

Drivers are going through training now. They’re taught about the scooter, how to operate it and fold it up, road safety, and customer service techniques. Zingo drivers stay on state and county roads and avoid intersates. If there’s a pick-up or drop-off that’s long-distance from Augusta, a vehicle comes into the mix. “We have a chase car, courtesy of Mercedes of Augusta. We can intercept our driver on their way back, so they’re not having to stay on the roads for any inordinate amount of time on the scooter,“ says Simkins.

Local law enforcement officers say anything to cut down on DUI is helpful…Columbia County made 328 DUI arrests in 2008. Augusta, nearly 1,500.

The company is launching Thursday night and their hours will be 7:00 p.m. until 3:00 a.m.,except Sundays, when they’ll park the bikes at midnight. To use the service, call 1-877-50-ZINGO.

To find out more about pricing and job opportunities at Zingo, log onto ZingoAugusta.com.