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Free Nickel Rides expanding to Cape Coral

Posted at 10:50 PM, Nov 24, 2017
and last updated 2017-11-27 07:15:41-05

Driving and parking in busy areas like Downtown Fort Myers can be a hassle. The CEO and Founder of The Nickel Ride is trying to change that.

The startup company is less than a year-old and has partnered with a number of local businesses to help make it easier for people to get around. 

"A lot of times it's just people who are just between that area that might take a taxi or an Uber, yet it's not quite that far but yet too far to walk", he told Fox 4. 

What makes the ride even better is the cost. The rides are free for users. The company makes money through partnerships with local companies. They buy advertising that goes on the back of cards people get from their drivers. 

The company has officially been in business for six months in Fort Myers, and it's already expanding. People can expect to see drivers in Cape Coral starting December 1st. There's already a list of places that The Nickel Ride has partnered with like The Dixie Roadhouse and The Tiki Bar. 

Using the Nickel Ride is pretty easy. A simple phone call will connect you with any driver in the area and soon it will get easier. In addition to launching The Nickel Ride in Cape Coral, Longreer is launching an app that will show people where the nearest driver is.

The expansion into Cape Coral also presents lucrative opportunities for drivers who mainly earn tips. A driver may make 70 to 100 rides per day. A busy night could mean more than that.

The hope is that The Nickel Ride will be just as successful in Cape Coral as it has been in Fort Myers.