Photo courtesy of XAn Oltman johnson
JR Johnson, Sober Rovers co-founder and driver, rides his scooter in an alley behind his house. Sober Rovers will arrive at a cutomer’s residence or bar on a collapsible scooter that folds and can fit in the trunk of the vehicle.Night Riders
By Lorean Serko
January 10, 2006
Standing outside the bar on a Thursday night waiting for a cab may soon be something of the past. A new chauffeur service based in Bellingham is helping people arrive home safely after a night of drinking.
Husband and wife Xan Oltman Johnson and JR Johnson, both Western alumni, established Sober Rovers in October 2005. Oltman Johnson is the call dispatcher and Johnson is a driver.
“Bellingham is a great place to start a business,” Oltman Johnson said. “People want an alternative to cabs as a ride home and that’s where Sober Rovers steps in.”
Sober Rovers works similar to a cab service, but with a twist. The main office, which runs out of the couple’s home in Bellingham, dispatches calls to drivers. After receiving the call, a Sober Rover arrives at any bar or residence on a small motorized, collapsible scooter. The scooter folds, is placed into a bag and then into the trunk of the customer’s car. The driver then chauffeurs customers to their destination. Upon arrival, the Sober Rover removes his or her scooter from the trunk to make the next pick up, Johnson said.
The Sober Rovers’ drivers abide by all traffic laws while traveling on the street-legal scooters. The company employs three drivers who wear waterproof clothing, helmets and goggles, Johnson said.
Photo courtesy of xan Oltman johnson
Sober Rovers, which opened in October 2005, is helping impaired individuals get themselves and their vehicles home safely. Founders Xan Oltman Johnson (not pictured) and JR Johnson (above) adapted the idea of Sober Rovers from similar programs in Los Angeles and London under names such as Scooter Patrol and Scooter Guy.“With our business, we are not only giving people safe rides home, we are getting the word out into the community about drunk driving,” Johnson said.
The concept of Sober Rovers comes from London where a designated driver on a scooter navigates narrow European roads and allows bar patrons to arrive home safely.
In Los Angeles, male models with fake British accents provide a similar service, Johnson said.
Sober Rovers drivers work every day from 9 p.m. to 3 a.m. In the past two months, the company has a steady increase in calls.
“Our business is so unique and the only way people are going to find out about us is word of mouth,” Oltman Johnson said.
The couple hope to start a new program soon called Rover Miles, which customers can purchase a prepaid card for rides from Sober Rovers instead of using cash.
“I love the opportunities, the new enterprise of being my own boss,” Oltman Johnson said. “It is so exciting to think of the potential our new business could bring.”
Sober Rovers charges customers $4 per mile and a $2 pick-up fee. Upon being picked up, vehicle owners must show proof of insurance in accordance with Washington state law, Johnson said. Drivers use a Global Positioning System device to track miles and each driver carries a walkie-talkie to keep in contact with the dispatcher.
Yellow Cab in Bellingham charges a $1.80 flat-fee and 20 cents every eleventh of a mile. A $1 gas charge is also added for each trip.
Most of the Sober Rovers’ customers are middle-aged and blue collar, Oltman Johnson said.
Johnson said he’s seen it all when driving, from making out in the back seat of the car to blowing into a ignition interlock device in order to start the engine of a customer’s vehicle.
“Every night is an adventure, which keeps things really exciting,” Johnson said.
Western junior and Sober Rover driver Sam Long has worked for the company since its establishment.
Long said he likes the late-night excitement that occurs in downtown Bellingham and enjoys riding the scooter.
“I have seen everything from knife-fights to people peeing,” Long said.
The company’s busiest days are Fridays and Sundays from 12 a.m. to 2 a.m. The couple encourages anyone planning on wanting a ride to make a reservation ahead of time.
“When last call comes around at the bars, every one is calling us at the same time,” Oltman Johnson said. “If you make a reservation, your ride is guaranteed.”
Sober Rovers hopes to hire more drivers when business picks up.
“When starting out our business we are forced to be patient and persistent,” Oltman Johnson said. “We had to learn that all the money we are making needs to go right back into the business to keep things running.”
For information on Sober Rovers or a ride home contact them at: (360) 734-9111 or by e-mail soberrovers at comcast.net
Night Riders
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