Mark Roberts This is Me

 Web References

1. 1. Pickup artists

   www.courier-journal.com/apps/p - [Cached]

   Published on: 11/12/2005   Last Visited: 11/13/2005

   CityScoot owner Mark Roberts, 26, would like to see more people embrace Glaser's rationale for using the service, particularly since Roberts knows the sobering reality. Last year, according to the Kentucky State Police, 23,444 people were arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol -- 2,083 of them in Jefferson County.
   
   Since starting CityScoot on Sept. 1, 2004, "we've delivered more than 4,000 people home safely," Roberts said. "(This) has had a huge impact -- saved some lives, I'm sure about that."
   
   But it's not enough.
   
   "Drunk driving is completely preventable. … Now that we're around, why chance it? We make it easier than ever to do the right thing," Roberts said.
   ...
   Seated on a foldable 75-pound scooter, Roberts motored through the streets, topping it out at 30 miles an hour. Upon arrival, Glaser handed over the keys to his Ford Taurus, and Roberts packed up the scooter into a 29-by-23-by-12-inch bag, then stowed it in the trunk.
   ...
   Roberts and a former partner -- an airline pilot who Roberts said left under amicable terms -- started the business after his girlfriend and current employee, Liz Powers, 25, saw a similar service in London.
   ...
   In the beginning, Roberts secured liability insurance in the event an accident occurs while one of his drivers is at the wheel, protecting the business, drivers and customer.
   
   Since then, he has worked through the kinks of being a first-time business owner. "I'm in a pretty good place now," he said.
   ...
   But Roberts said he has been busy. He's gearing up to increase his visibility, and he's hired five new drivers, bringing the total to 14, which doesn't include a couple of staff members who dispatch and man chase cars, used on trips more than 6 miles out of town.
   
   "You live and learn when you start a business. I've figured out the ins and outs over the past year. Now I want to make it easier than ever before," Roberts said.
   
   He hopes to work with the city, including the Louisville Metro Police, to decrease the number of people who drink and drive. But Maj.
   ...
   Roberts is working to develop partnerships with local restaurants and bars to make the service more readily available and cost-effective. Eventually, he envisions positioning CityScoot drivers "on every corner" of the city.
   
   "When it does happen, it will revolutionize the way people go out at night," he said.
   ...
   "He pays us to be available for his customers … any Thursday, Friday or Saturday," Roberts said.
   ...
   "He sees his up-front responsibility," Roberts said.
   ...
   Roberts and his drivers often park their rides at the bars on down time to hand out promotional materials.
   
   The CityScoot guys and gals in the conspicuous yellow jackets are welcome more often than not, and according to Roberts, the CityScoot option has been added to bar lists of safe rides home alongside taxicab companies.
   ...
   It won't be, Roberts said, until larger venues like Fourth Street Live embrace it.
   
   "We've been less successful there than anywhere else. Individually, some of the bars have been supportive," Roberts said. "… As a whole, we have not been allowed to maintain a presence with Fourth Street."
   
   "Fourth Street Live! supports responsible drinking," said Kimber Goodwin, director of marketing for The Cordish Co., in a written statement. "Because we do not allow solicitation of any kind at Fourth Street Live! we encourage CityScoot to speak directly with our tenants about distributing literature."
   
   Roberts said he has approached individual businesses inside the venue, but many have corporate policies that forbid them from accepting solicitors of any kind, CityScoot included.
   
   A small price to pay?
   
   But the major challenge Roberts faces is twofold: Too few people know CityScoot exists, and those who are aware of the service often believe it is too expensive.
   
   When Roberts approached Shannon Boyle, 22, last week at O'Shea's, she said those in her party usually spent "$15 to $20 on a cab." Roberts asked for the address and retrieved a price quote from his dispatcher: $23.
   ...
   If it's up to Roberts, CityScoot will quickly come to mind as a safe alternative for getting home.
   
   For now, he said resignedly, "we're the best-kept secret in Louisville."
   
   ^^ Back to top >
   
   + enlarge CityScoot owner Mark Roberts was on his way to meet a client on Main Street. (Photo by Chris Hall, Special to The Courier-Journal.

2. 2. Goo Goo Dolls help Harvest

   www.courier-journal.com/apps/p - [Cached]

   Published on: 6/22/2006   Last Visited: 6/22/2006

   "The Buzz" and her beau had a ball at last weekend's Cabo Wabo bash, which is the reason for sending a quick shout-out to City Scoot owner Mark Roberts.
   
   Nothing beats knowing you can unleash your inner rock star and tear up (or trip on) the dance floor without worrying about how to make it home safely with your car.
   
   For the cost of a cab, Roberts stowed his foldable scooter in the back of our ride and drove us to our destination. Check out his no-brainer biz at cityscoot.com or call (502) 566-6384.

3. 3. Pickup artists

   www.courierjournal.com/apps/pb - [Cached]

   Published on: 11/12/2005   Last Visited: 11/12/2005

   CityScoot owner Mark Roberts, 26, would like to see more people embrace Glaser's rationale for using the service, particularly since Roberts knows the sobering reality. Last year, according to the Kentucky State Police, 23,444 people were arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol -- 2,083 of them in Jefferson County.
   
   Since starting CityScoot on Sept. 1, 2004, "we've delivered more than 4,000 people home safely," Roberts said. "(This) has had a huge impact -- saved some lives, I'm sure about that."
   
   But it's not enough.
   
   "Drunk driving is completely preventable. … Now that we're around, why chance it? We make it easier than ever to do the right thing," Roberts said.
   ...
   Seated on a foldable 75-pound scooter, Roberts motored through the streets, topping it out at 30 miles an hour. Upon arrival, Glaser handed over the keys to his Ford Taurus, and Roberts packed up the scooter into a 29-by-23-by-12-inch bag, then stowed it in the trunk.
   ...
   Roberts and a former partner -- an airline pilot who Roberts said left under amicable terms -- started the business after his girlfriend and current employee, Liz Powers, 25, saw a similar service in London.
   ...
   In the beginning, Roberts secured liability insurance in the event an accident occurs while one of his drivers is at the wheel, protecting the business, drivers and customer.
   
   Since then, he has worked through the kinks of being a first-time business owner. "I'm in a pretty good place now," he said.
   ...
   But Roberts said he has been busy. He's gearing up to increase his visibility, and he's hired five new drivers, bringing the total to 14, which doesn't include a couple of staff members who dispatch and man chase cars, used on trips more than 6 miles out of town.
   
   "You live and learn when you start a business. I've figured out the ins and outs over the past year. Now I want to make it easier than ever before," Roberts said.
   
   He hopes to work with the city, including the Louisville Metro Police, to decrease the number of people who drink and drive. But Maj.
   ...
   Roberts is working to develop partnerships with local restaurants and bars to make the service more readily available and cost-effective. Eventually, he envisions positioning CityScoot drivers "on every corner" of the city.
   
   "When it does happen, it will revolutionize the way people go out at night," he said.
   ...
   "He pays us to be available for his customers … any Thursday, Friday or Saturday," Roberts said.
   ...
   "He sees his up-front responsibility," Roberts said.
   ...
   Roberts and his drivers often park their rides at the bars on down time to hand out promotional materials.
   
   The CityScoot guys and gals in the conspicuous yellow jackets are welcome more often than not, and according to Roberts, the CityScoot option has been added to bar lists of safe rides home alongside taxicab companies.
   ...
   It won't be, Roberts said, until larger venues like Fourth Street Live embrace it.
   
   "We've been less successful there than anywhere else. Individually, some of the bars have been supportive," Roberts said. "… As a whole, we have not been allowed to maintain a presence with Fourth Street."
   
   "Fourth Street Live! supports responsible drinking," said Kimber Goodwin, director of marketing for The Cordish Co., in a written statement. "Because we do not allow solicitation of any kind at Fourth Street Live! we encourage CityScoot to speak directly with our tenants about distributing literature."
   
   Roberts said he has approached individual businesses inside the venue, but many have corporate policies that forbid them from accepting solicitors of any kind, CityScoot included.
   
   A small price to pay?
   
   But the major challenge Roberts faces is twofold: Too few people know CityScoot exists, and those who are aware of the service often believe it is too expensive.
   
   When Roberts approached Shannon Boyle, 22, last week at O'Shea's, she said those in her party usually spent "$15 to $20 on a cab." Roberts asked for the address and retrieved a price quote from his dispatcher: $23.
   ...
   If it's up to Roberts, CityScoot will quickly come to mind as a safe alternative for getting home.
   
   For now, he said resignedly, "we're the best-kept secret in Louisville."
   
   ^^ Back to top >
   
   + enlarge CityScoot owner Mark Roberts was on his way to meet a client on Main Street. (Photo by Chris Hall, Special to The Courier-Journal.