RIDELine

Informally known as the Drunk Bus, RideLine is a free shuttle service for students and run by students that operates from 9pm-2am seven nights a week. Officially, it provides up to 7 (at one time) Oberlin students, faculty, staff, and official guests bus-like trips to designated stops around the campus every day that classes are in session. In reality, it's more like a short-range taxi service that can take 15 or more people anywhere in Oberlin city limits and runs throughout the semester, including some breaks. People call its number (775-RIDE, 775-7433), and within a few minutes a big white bus pulls up and takes the caller wherever they want in the town. On weekday nights it's usually the only thing on the road by 2am, and typically empty (which means 1-5 minute waiting times for it to show up). On weekends it's typically packed well beyond its rated capacity with screaming drunken students going from one party to another, and typically takes 15-30 minutes to get somewhere.

RideLine is really useful when you've got somewhere to go between 9pm and 2am and are one or more of: a) drunk, b) lazy, c) cold, d) far away from where you want to get to, or e) carrying lots of stuff. Contrary to popular belief, it isn't useful (or at least reliable) if you want to get somewhere any faster than you would by walking--RideLine isn't actually a "taxi" service, and they're more concerned with picking up as many people as possible than getting them to their destination as quickly as possible.

Also, it's not typical, but tipping your driver in food, money, or drugs/alcohol is highly appreciated and will probably get you higher priority next time you're in the van (we remember that kind of stuff).