Eco-Friendly West Chester Transportation Service That Offers Free Rides to Launch Today

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Images via West Chester Free Ride.

West Chester Free Ride – a father-daughter, eco-friendly transportation service that offers free rides on its mobile advertising platform – will officially launch in the borough with an Official Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony and Launch Party on Saturday, Sept. 7 from 11:30 AM-1:30 PM at Iron Hill Brewery & Restaurant.

The public is invited to attend their grand opening event, which will feature exciting announcements, sponsor giveaways, and … of course … free rides around the borough!

As a member of the Greater West Chester Chamber of Commerce, West Chester Free Ride celebrated its promotional soft launch during two events in March, and the feedback from the community and local businesses was overwhelmingly positive.

West Chester Mayor Dianne Herrin, GWCC President Mark Yoder, West Chester BID’s Malcolm Johnstone and West Chester University, as well as a number of local business owners, have all expressed their excitement in anticipation of the new service, which is 100 percent electric. They will all be sharing a few words during the opening remarks at the Official Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony and Launch Party about how West Chester Free Ride will make a positive impact on the local community.

West Chester Free Ride made its initial public appearance as the official pace car for the St. Pat’s 5K at Levante Brewing Company in March. With ad sponsorships from Barnaby’s, Iron Hill Brewery, Mas, Side Bar, and Tilted Axes, West Chester Free Ride was named the official free ride transportation service for a one-day promotional soft launch during St. Patrick’s Day weekend. In its very first day in operation, it transported more than 100 free riders, who enjoyed a free ride experience like no other in the borough.

Operating initially on weekend evenings and expanding to daily service based on rider demand, West Chester Free Ride Mobile enables riders to reserve a free ride online, call/text on demand, leave reviews, and check out sponsor offers – all from their smartphone with no app download required. All reservations receive a confirmation of their pickup with links to local businesses’ marketing promotions.

Free riders will be greeted with “Black Car Service” treatment upon arrival, including opening of doors, distribution of sponsor giveaways, and premium sound system and lighting, along with on-board mobile-ad kiosks displaying sponsored digital content.

West Chester Free Ride’s three-car fleet of high-end, street-legal Polaris GEM E6 golf-car shuttles feature a lithium battery package (70-mile range) with one-hour fast-charging at the “free charging” stations in the Borough of West Chester, compliments of Mayor Herrin. The eco-friendly, zero-emission fleet also has full doors for all-weather operation and mobile advertising for ad sponsor signage and improved safety with seat belts for all riders.

All cars have been outfitted with LED rooftop lighting for high-visibility advertising for local businesses and corporate brands. The unique mobile advertising model provides high ad-sponsor impressions with low CPM, as compared to other channels like paper publications or television/radio. West Chester Free Ride’s social-media presence on Facebook and Instagram is a key component of its overall marketing strategy to amplify ad sponsors and share positive rider feedback.

As part of its mission to support young female entrepreneurs, West Chester Free Ride’s team of three Bayard Rustin High School juniors participated in the Independent Business Plan category in the Pennsylvania DECA State Competition in Hershey earlier in the year, won first place, and later presented the business concept at nationals in Orlando.

A key part of the business’s mission is to help feed the hungry in the area. West Chester Free Ride is donating a portion of its advertising revenues to the Chester County Food Bank, as well as collecting food from guests who attend the Official Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony and Launch Party on Saturday, Sept. 7.

West Chester Free Ride is currently signing up ground-floor local business ad signage sponsors (monthly, semester, and seasonal) to help promote their businesses and recruiting licensed drivers to join its team.

For interested businesses, contact West Chester Free Ride via e-mail at sales@wcfreeride.com to explore signage options.

Click here to register for the Official Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony and Launch Party on Sept. 7.

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