JOIN USShare a cab’, at the outset, seems like a welcome option, given the pricing, but there are those who say that it is their last option because of the wariness associated with travelling with strangers.
Men, more than women, choose this mode of transport as the latter say they find it uncomfortable to travel with complete strangers. Also, the travel time is longer and one ends up taking a circuitous route.
While the concept is certainly a green idea as it reduces vehicles on the road and brings down the carbon footprint, the process needs streamlining, say people.
Sharing his perspective, Rajiv, a designer, says his experience hasn’t been bad because no one else ended up sharing the only shared ride he has booked.
“However, I do not see myself using this again as the time of pick up and drop are uncertain. Even regular bookings are a difficult, with drivers who are reluctant to go to some parts of the city, the traffic and other unexpected delays,” he says.
He says he would rather explore independent travel options.
There are lots of people who have relocated to Bengaluru for work and higher education. Cab services are widely used by those who have made Bengaluru their temporary home, like Shruthi Raghavan. The software professional says she has had a dreadful experience travelling in a shared cab.
“There are two main cab aggregators that provide the ‘share’ option. Neither of these is perfect. Whenever I’ve taken a shared cab, I have had to sit for at least three hours before I reach my destination. This is time-consuming,” says Shruthi.
She feels the routes should be better aligned and coordinated — with separate ones for different destinations — for better efficiency.
Others like Shamanth Harsha, another software professional working in Manyata Tech Park, swear by shared cabs. He says he has not only expanded his friend circle but also exchanged valuable business contacts by making new acquaintances while commuting.
“I’ve met people from different professions. You get to learn from them and exchange a lot of information. Sharing a cab saves time, money and also offers insightful travel,” he shares.
He points out that time management is key to making shared-cab travel a good experience.
Although most cabs are equipped with GPS, and the option of travelling cheap is an attractive proposition, the thought of sitting with total strangers, women say, keep them from choosing it.
Rashmi Sunderan, an IT professional, recollects that she took a ‘shared cab’ home after a night out but ended up regretting it.
“There were three others in the cab, two of them men. One started a conversation and seemed decent. We exchanged numbers and, soon, I forgot about the commute. But a few days later, he began sending me disturbing messages,” says Rashmi. She had to file a harassment complaint with the police to be rid of him.
Sharing her opinion about safety, Shruthi says she was travelling in a ‘shared cab’ when she was asked by the cab driver to get off midway and take another cab.
“He said there was some problem with the car but I saw him speed away. I found that insensitive, especially since I was travelling alone,” she says.