09 02 15

Page 1

Widespread bee deaths threaten economy, agriculture >>See page 2

Racism isn’t always restricted to one race >>See page 6

Miley Cyrus adds psychedolic to list of sounds >>See page 8

UT grad jumpstarts alternative taxi service Hannah Marley Staff Writer

Tanner Hancock News Editor

(Top) Without an official office, Joy Ride Knoxville currently resides in the University Commons parking garage. (Bottom) Assistant manager and driver Jared Strader heads back to campus after picking up two students from downtown. All photos bt Justin Keyes • The Daily Beacon

Volume 130 Issue 11

They’re on campus, in the Fort, Old City and downtown. They’re Joy Ride, a microtransportation service that transports customers exclusively in golf carts. Running from 8 a.m. to 3 a.m. Monday through Sunday, the service is unique both in its use of golf carts and its accepting tips as the only form of payment from customers, regardless of the length of the trip or time of day. Founder Grant Rosenblatt, a UT alumnus with a degree in business administration, said he recognized a need for fast and convenient public transportation after witnessing the Nashville crowds of the 2012 Country Music Awards.

utdailybeacon.com @utkdailybeacon

With a successful team of carts serving the downtown Nashville area, Rosenblatt said that his first choice for expansion was his alma mater. He first tested Joy Ride in Knoxville one year ago on Boomsday. Though no official office exists for the new business, Joy Ride Knoxville currently has three carts and is looking to expand to 11 or 15 by the start of football season. “We were looking at other cities, but I felt — being a UT graduate — that our services would be needed,” Rosenblatt said. “As a former student, I remember all the hills in Fort Sanders and the crowds on game day. We knew it would be a viable market.” On its first official day, Joy Ride received 218 calls for rides, with each driver making an average of $150 in tips. Though Joy Ride does not charge a flat fee for their services, Rosenblatt added that profits rose despite the business risk. See GOLF CARTS on Page 3

Wednesday, September 2, 2015


Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.