Editor:

The ideology behind the Student Government Association’s cab vouchers is good: Help students avoid drinking and driving by giving out free cab rides to and from bars. But it doesn’t work. I’ve tried to use them on two different occasions with no luck.

During Mardi Gras, I called the United number listed on my voucher to request a cab home. Cab after cab came, saw we had a voucher and then refused to take us.

“We don’t know anything about that,” the drivers told us repeatedly. Finally, a member of the New Orleans Police Department had to call United and demand a cab be sent for us.

The cab arrived and grudgingly took us. He claimed he knew nothing about the vouchers, was not going to be paid for the ride, was rude and made us show two types of ID.

I got another voucher for a ride to or from F&M’s, this time sponsored by White Fleet Cab Company.

Every time I called White Fleet and said I had the voucher, I was told no cabs were in the area. Finally, I spotted a White Fleet cab outside F&M’s and flagged it down. I didn’t present the voucher until we were dropped off, where the driver proceeded to say he knew nothing about them and didn’t accept them.

I appreciate the attempt that SGA is making by trying to give students a safe ride home, but there needs to be better communication with the cab companies. I’m sure that SGA paid good money for the vouchers, and it’s a shame that so many go to waste because of uncooperative and uninformed cab drivers.

Cristina GibsonCommunications junior