10:03am | Amid all the partying and celebrating associated with Ringing in the New Year, the most important part of the evening is finding a safe ride home. Long Beach Transit is stepping in to offer free bus service until 2:30am on January 1, 2011, in an effort to keep intoxicated partiers off the streets. Check out the press release, below:

Long Beach Transit Free New Year’s Eve

Late Night Free Service Promotes Downtown Festivities

LONG BEACH, CALIF. (December 14, 2010) – Free system-wide bus service will be available on Long Beach Transit on New Year’s Eve starting at 5PM. This fare-free promotion encourages taking public transit on New Year’s Eve and provides residents an option to avoid drinking and driving. This free service was made available by the Downtown Long Beach Associates, in promotion of the festivities happening for New Year’s Eve in downtown Long Beach, which include family friendly early evening fun and late night music and dining entertainment. “Public transit really is the best option for residents on New Year’s Eve. Virtually all bus routes provide direct service to and from downtown Long Beach – the center of where the main party is happening,” said Mark Curtis, Long Beach Transit’s Chairman of the Board of Directors.

In addition to free boarding, extended evening service will be available through 2:30am on New Year’s Eve to accommodate anticipated high demand in downtown Long Beach and throughout the city. The last bus will leave the Long Beach Transit Mall, located on Ocean Blvd (due to construction on First Street) between Pine Avenue and Long Beach Blvd in downtown Long Beach, at 2:30am. Residents are encouraged to plan their trip early by using the trip planner available at www.lbtransit.com or by calling 562-591-2301 Monday-Friday, 7am-6pm, Saturday 8am-3pm, or by visiting the Transit & Visitor Information Center at First Street & Pine Avenue in downtown Long Beach. Transit assistance from a live person will be available in downtown Long Beach during the New Year’s Eve festivities and information is available 24/7 from a touch screen kiosk located at the Transit & Visitor Information Center.

About Long Beach Transit
Long Beach Transit serves over 29 million boarding customers in Long Beach, Lakewood and Signal Hill—as well as portions of Artesia, Bellflower, Carson, Cerritos, Compton, Hawaiian Gardens, Norwalk, Paramount and Seal Beach—with regular bus and shuttle services including the Passport, AquaBus, and AquaLink. For more information visit www.lbtransit.com.