NightRiders, Incorporated
Encyclopedia
NightRiders, Incorporated was the first U.S. designated-driver-for-hire service to use collapsible motor scooters, also known as monkey bike
s.
by Gary Calnan, Brad Dickerhofe, and Carl Grodnik. In 2004, the company opened a new operation in the state capital of Denver. Before closing its operational doors in 2005, NightRiders earned strong community acceptance as well as garnering a great deal of national media coverage including TIME Magazine, Inc. Magazine, NBC
's The Today Show, Dateline NBC
and United In-Flight programming. Multiple competitor companies were started in the Denver Metro region following NightRiders, often mimicking the company's unique operating and marketing styles. NightRiders is no longer in business according to their corporate website.
. The business employed drivers equipped with collapsible, motorized scooters. The drivers drove customers home in their own vehicles, stowing the scooters in the customer's trunk. Upon arrival to the customer's destination, the driver collected the fare, assembled the scooter, and rode off to the next customer.
, specifically aiming toward the Discovery Channel
, TLC
, and the Travel Channel
.
Monkey bike
Monkey bike is the name given by Honda to one of their small, low-powered motorcycles introduced in the 1960s. The first Honda monkey was the 1961 Z100. Later Monkeys were designated Z50, such as the Z50A,J,M,R and Z....
s.
History
NightRiders was founded in July 2001 in Boulder, ColoradoBoulder, Colorado
Boulder is the county seat and most populous city of Boulder County and the 11th most populous city in the U.S. state of Colorado. Boulder is located at the base of the foothills of the Rocky Mountains at an elevation of...
by Gary Calnan, Brad Dickerhofe, and Carl Grodnik. In 2004, the company opened a new operation in the state capital of Denver. Before closing its operational doors in 2005, NightRiders earned strong community acceptance as well as garnering a great deal of national media coverage including TIME Magazine, Inc. Magazine, NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
's The Today Show, Dateline NBC
Dateline NBC
Dateline NBC, or Dateline, is a U.S. weekly television newsmagazine broadcast by NBC. It previously was NBC's flagship news magazine, but now focuses on true crime stories. It airs Friday at 9 p.m. EST and after football season on Sunday at 7 p.m. EST.-History:Dateline is historically notable for...
and United In-Flight programming. Multiple competitor companies were started in the Denver Metro region following NightRiders, often mimicking the company's unique operating and marketing styles. NightRiders is no longer in business according to their corporate website.
Business model
NightRiders, Incorporated was a traditional "C" corporation funded with private investment. Essentially, it utilized a model that allowed customers to pay for a designated driverDesignated driver
The terms "designated driver" and "designated driving" refer to selecting a person to remain sober, as the driver of a vehicle, while others are allowed to drink to excess . A designated driver is a person who abstains from alcohol on a social occasion in order to drive his/her companions home safely...
. The business employed drivers equipped with collapsible, motorized scooters. The drivers drove customers home in their own vehicles, stowing the scooters in the customer's trunk. Upon arrival to the customer's destination, the driver collected the fare, assembled the scooter, and rode off to the next customer.
Awards & Media Coverage
- TIME Magazine - January 17, 2005 - "And One More For The Road"
- Inc. Magazine - March 2005 - "Five Ideas to Watch"
- 2005 - Innovation Quotient Award from the Boulder County Business Report
- 2004 - Platinum Key of Life Award from Doctors for Designated Driving
- 2003 - Corporate Leadership Award from the National Commission Against Drunk Driving
Major Events
In August 2005, NightRiders endeavored to expand their concept of driving people home in their own cars. They planned and executed the NightRiders "Ride to END Drunk Driving" Campaign, riding ten (10) collapsible scooters across the United States, from Boulder, Colorado to New York City, demonstrating the company's service to communities along the way. The ride was filmed and edited by 42 Productions http://www.42productions.com/ and is currently in the process of being marketed to various television networks, targeting Discovery CommunicationsDiscovery Communications
Discovery Communications, Inc. is an American global media and entertainment company. The company started as a single channel in 1985, The Discovery Channel. Today, DCI has global operations offering 28 network entertainment brands on more than 100 channels in more than 180 countries in 39...
, specifically aiming toward the Discovery Channel
Discovery Channel
Discovery Channel is an American satellite and cable specialty channel , founded by John Hendricks and distributed by Discovery Communications. It is a publicly traded company run by CEO David Zaslav...
, TLC
TLC (band)
TLC is an American musical trio whose repertoire spanned R&B, hip-hop, soul, funk, and new jack swing. Originally consisting of singer Tionne "T-Boz" Watkins, rapper-singer Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes and singer Rozonda "Chilli" Thomas it found success in the 1990s while also enduring a series of spats...
, and the Travel Channel
Travel Channel
The Travel Channel is a satellite and cable television channel that is headquartered in Chevy Chase, Maryland, US. It features documentaries and how-to shows related to travel and leisure around the United States and throughout the world. Programming has included shows in African animal safaris,...
.