MAZOMANIE, Wis. -- With free buses, taxi service and the Tavern League's free SafeRide program in motion, New Year's revelers in Madison have a few options for a sober ride home, but in rural communities, celebrating safely means finding help from some very important friends.

Taverns like R&J's Saloon in Mazomanie might not be as packed as State Street hot spots in Madison for New Year's, but its patrons are also excited about celebrating the end of 2009.

"Family, friends, locals -- everybody celebrates here for different occasions," said Jill Lucey, a bartender at R&J's Saloon. "We have free pool, free jukebox, there's no cover charge. There's free champagne at midnight along with party favors."

But getting home from bars in rural areas after a night of celebrating is something that needs special attention.

"Unlike Madison, people have to drive further to get to someplace to drink tonight, if they're planning on getting to a bar rather than staying home. So we've got longer distances; there are higher speeds involved too, especially out on the county roads, and those are definitely concerns for us because our crashes tend to be more severe out this way," said Deputy Tim Blanke, of the Dane County Sheriff's Department.

Blanke said that rural driving mentality is something taverns take seriously.

"We have very good bar owners here in Mazomanie that are more than helpful to ensure people get home safely if they notice that someone's had too much to drink," Blanke said.

Resident Dick Harrop said sometimes the best option is the friend willing to step up and choose to be the designated driver for the night.

"What's the difference in Madison? There you got buses, you got cabs. What do you got out here? You got friends, neighbors," he said.

"There's always somebody in here that is willing to give someone else a safe ride home," Lucey said.

Fifty-six counties around the state are participating in the Tavern League's free SafeRide program, but the Tavern League said that getting rides to those in rural areas is the most challenging part of program.