"Don't drink and drive" is the message this New Year's Eve, and to prevent people from doing that, the Metropolitan Transit Authority is offering free bus and train services.

According to Chron, the free ride will be available from Thursday 6 p.m. to Friday 6 a.m., so anyone out partying can go home safely and avoid driving while under the influence. Moreover, the bus service will follow normal schedules, but many routes will stop service before or shortly after midnight.

The light rail service on the other hand, will operate until at least 1:40 in the morning, depending on the station and direction. The free rides will then resume when service continues in the early morning. Northbound and eastbound service starts around 4 a.m. on all routes.

Apart from the Metro Transit, Star Tribune reported that free rides will also be offered on Minnesota Valley Transit Authority and Anoka County Traveler routes.

Some of these free rides are sponsored by Miller Lite, which since 1997, provided more than one million rides in Minnesota, including New Year's Eve and St. Patrick's Day programs.

Additionally, the Free Rides program, since its inception in 1987, has provided more than five million people nationwide with a safe ride home.

According to Metro Transit General Manager Brian Lamb, "Transit provides everything people look for when it comes to transportation - safety, convenience and value," he then further said, "And with dozens of bus routes and two light rail lines providing frequent service in Minneapolis, St. Paul and surrounding communities, there are plenty of ways to get around on New Year's Eve."

As for the people in Chicago, CBS noted that beginning 10 p.m. of Thursday, CTA trains and buses will provide free rides, according an official statement from the agency.

Riders will not need to touch their fare cards at turnstiles or before boarding buses until Friday of 4 a.m.

Furthermore, the CTA will also extend hours and increase the frequency of service for several bus and rail routes, the statement said.

Signs will also be posted reminding people of the free ride period on bus fare boxes and rail station and Ventra readers will be turned off. However, no refunds will be issued to riders who use their fare cards during the free period.

This free ride offered by the CTA is also sponsored by Miller Light as part of the agreement to discourage drunk driving. Each year, the CTA sees an average of 150,000 bus and train rides on New Year's Eve.

"The program encourages people to leave their keys at home and let the CTA be their designated driver," CTA President Dorval Carter, Jr. said in the statement.