We recently connected with Courtney Craig and have shared our conversation below.

Courtney, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. So let’s jump to your mission – what’s the backstory behind how you developed the mission that drives your brand?

As a transplant from California to Birmingham, I quickly realized how disconnected parts of the city felt, not due to a lack of community spirit, but due to infrastructure that made it hard for people to fully access the city’s offerings. Whether it was limited parking, safety concerns, or lack of short-distance transportation options, the barriers to experiencing downtown were real and disproportionately affected those without access to a personal vehicle or affordable alternatives. I also realized how deeply this disconnectedness impacted our local small businesses, especially through my work in economic development. For over three years, I’ve worked full time supporting and developing small businesses in the heart of downtown Birmingham. In that role, I witnessed firsthand how a lack of accessible transportation and parking could lead to low foot traffic, missed opportunities, and visibility challenges for businesses working hard to survive and grow. That knowledge became the foundation for SafeDay Transport, designed not just to move people, but to reconnect our community, support our small businesses, and unlock the full potential of downtown.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

My name is Courtney Craig, and I am the founder of SafeDay Transport, a community-focused shuttle service in downtown Birmingham, Alabama. My journey into this industry wasn’t traditional, I didn’t come from a background in transportation, but rather from years of working in economic development and the nonprofit sector, serving people and communities. For over three years, I worked full time in the heart of downtown helping small businesses grow and navigate the many challenges of building and sustaining their work. Through that experience, I began to see a bigger issue holding our city back: accessibility.

As a transplant from California, I immediately noticed how disconnected Birmingham felt compared to other cities. Parking limitations, safety concerns, and the lack of reliable short-distance transportation kept people from fully enjoying downtown events, nightlife, and restaurants. What struck me most was how this directly affected our local small businesses. Many of them were doing incredible work, offering amazing products, food, and experiences, yet foot traffic was limited simply because customers found it too inconvenient to get to them. That realization was the spark behind SafeDay Transport, I wanted to create a solution that would not only help people move more freely and safely downtown but also uplift the small businesses that are the backbone of our community.

SafeDay Transport provides street-legal, electric 6-seater carts designed for short-distance, on-demand rides in downtown Birmingham. Our services range from event transportation for weddings, concerts, and private gatherings to curated experiences like our Sip & Ride tours and bar crawls. We also partner with local venues, hotels, and restaurants to build unique offerings that connect our riders directly to Birmingham’s culture and small business ecosystem. One of the ways we stand out is through our Preferred Business List, where we highlight local businesses to our riders, giving them visibility and driving traffic directly to their storefronts. By doing this, we’re not just moving people, we’re building a bridge between the community and the small businesses that need support.

The main problem we solve for our clients is accessibility. For riders, we make it easier, safer, and more enjoyable to navigate downtown without worrying about long walks or parking struggles. For small businesses, we reduce the barrier that limited parking often creates and bring them new customers through our shuttle services and curated experiences. What sets us apart is that we’re not just a transportation company, we’re a community partner with a mission to connect people, places, and opportunities.

What I’m most proud of is that SafeDay Transport was born out of a real need, and we’ve already begun to make an impact in a short time. From helping a family get safely to a concert, to partnering with a Black-owned business that gained new customers through one of our tours, to creating part-time jobs in our early stages, every milestone reminds me that this business is about more than just rides. It’s about creating access, opportunity, and having fun while doing so.

The main thing I want potential clients and supporters to know about us is that SafeDay Transport is here to serve the community. Our brand values are Safe, Fun, and Reliable, and everything we do reflects that. Whether you’re booking us for your wedding, hopping on one of our themed tours, or riding with us after a concert, you can expect more than just a ride, you can expect an experience that helps you connect with Birmingham in a new way.

SafeDay Transport is still growing, but our vision is bold. We aim to expand our fleet, create more jobs, and continue building partnerships with the small businesses that make Birmingham unique. We believe that when people are connected, communities thrive and that’s the purpose driving everything we do.

How did you put together the initial capital you needed to start your business?

Funding for startup businesses is always tough because of the perceived risk, but starting a transportation business made it feel ten times harder. Traditional lenders and financial institutions weren’t willing to take a chance on me because I didn’t yet have six months of operating history to show revenue or cash flow. On top of that, I didn’t have the personal finances or credit that would open the door to other financing options with traditional institutions. Even though I had the vision, the well shown plan, projections and goals, -it was still seen as too risky.

What made the difference for me was family. I am fortunate to have an amazing support system that believed in me and the purpose behind SafeDay Transport. With their help, I was able to lease the very first golf cart that allowed me to launch my business. Since then, I’ve continued to be resourceful and creative when it comes to funding. I’ve pursued grants and reinvested every bit of revenue back into the business to strengthen our foundation. To purchase the second vehicle, I had to take an even more creative route by bringing on a private investor with a 35% ROI. It wasn’t what I originally imagined, because I always pictured being able to outright purchase carts and grow debt-free. I knew starting off with so much debt and high expenses meant it would take longer to actually break even or see profit. But this was a pivot I had to make in order to keep the business moving forward. That decision reflects what entrepreneurship often requires…flexibility, strategy, and doing what it takes to create momentum even when the original plan has to shift.

What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?

I believe what helped build our reputation in the market is how we make people feel. At SafeDay Transport, our values are at the center of everything we do, and I think that’s what truly sets us apart. There will always be competitors who offer similar services, but no one can deliver it the way we do. From the very first email exchange to the way we greet our passengers in person, we show up with love, patience, and care. Our goal is to create a warm, welcoming experience where people feel safe, valued, and able to simply enjoy their time in downtown Birmingham. That consistency, whether through communication, customer service, or the actual ride itself, is what makes us stand out and has helped us earn trust and build our reputation.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.safedaytransport.com
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/safedaytransport/
• Facebook: https://facebook.com/Safedaytransport
• Yelp: https://yelp.com/biz/safeday-transport-birmingham
• Other: tik tok https://www.tiktok.com/@safedaytransport

Image Credits

Joe’l Bethany Brock