Supports free taxi

I greatly appreciate the taxi article in last week's Whitefish Pilot and would like to draw the community's attention to what could be the loss of an important service to the community of Whitefish.

The Ride Guy stepped up to the plate to service the nighttime crowds of Whitefish during a time when no services were available. They are a nonprofit organization, which means they cannot accept even a cookie for their services. If they do they can be shut down.

Even the best of intentions means nothing to the Montana Public Service Commission — they will enforce the law no matter what.

The transportation business is cutthroat — everyone protects their territories, some with legitimate reasons, others out of belligerence. I was given the wrong information by the state of Montana, and since then, my life has been crazy. I was shut down, someone tried to run me off the road with my 6-year-old granddaughter in the car, people have made phone calls in my name, I have had threats of protests if I didn't comply with their wishes, been protested, dropped my licensing application to avoid protest and bankruptcy by grabbing a leased license.

All this to bring services to the disabled, elderly and families. I harbor no ill feelings towards the services involved in all this but want to warn the community get behind The Ride Guy and make this service 100 percent nonprofit. Keep in mind — the other services are paying up to $500 per month in insurance per car, paying drivers, court fees to defend their licenses and much more. It would be easy for them to shut down this valuable service. I personally don't want this to happen. I am looking forward to serving the community right alongside The Ride Guy.

Jeanne Herron

Drive4U