Officials Partner With Uber To Offer Discounted Thanksgiving Rides

Local officials announced a temporary ride subsidy with Uber intended to provide safer travel options during the Thanksgiving holiday weekend. The program will begin at 10 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 26 and continue through 2 a.m. Monday, Dec. 1, 2025, covering residents of Bernalillo, Sandoval and Santa Fe counties. Riders who enter the code NMTURKEY25 in the Uber app vouchers tab may receive up to ten dollars off two rides, subject to availability.

The offer is limited to 2,500 rides and will be available on a first come first served basis, so residents are advised to plan ahead if they expect to travel during peak holiday hours. The discount can be applied in the Uber app and is designed to encourage people to choose a ride over driving after drinking or when roads are busy. For communities in Sandoval County where public transit options are limited during holidays, the subsidy can provide a practical alternative to getting behind the wheel.

Public safety officials framed the initiative as part of a larger effort to reduce impaired driving and holiday traffic incidents. By reducing the cost barrier for rides, the program aims to make it easier for people attending gatherings to return home safely. Local emergency services and law enforcement often see a surge in calls and crashes during holiday weekends, making additional transport options a public health and safety measure as much as a convenience.

The partnership follows a growing trend of public private cooperation on road safety measures seen in other cities and countries, where ride sharing platforms have been used to supplement transit services and decrease alcohol related crashes during high risk periods. For Sandoval County residents who will be traveling between towns, to family gatherings, or to larger metro areas, the availability of subsidized rides may change travel plans and reduce pressure on local parking and road networks.

To redeem the offer, riders should open the Uber app, go to the vouchers tab, and enter the code NMTURKEY25. The program covers up to two discounted rides per user until the 2,500 ride limit is reached. Residents are encouraged to consider booking rides early for known plans, to share transportation details with hosts, and to keep alternate arrangements in mind in case the voucher allocation is exhausted.

As holiday travel begins, this temporary subsidy offers a practical option for safer traveling within the covered counties, and underscores local efforts to reduce preventable incidents on the roads during a traditionally high risk period.