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How To Ride a Taxi in RiyadhDisclaimer: This is not an entry to encourage ladies to ride a cab alone from hereon forward. Riding a taxi alone is only meant for those moments when you have nearly "no choice." (Shopping is not one of those moments.)This guide is intended for the girls but guys can get a few hints too.
You'll never know.It's true and we won't deny it,
taking a taxi here in Riyadh is dangerous for the ladies. Especially when taken
alone. Unfortunately, taxis are the only means of transportation we have when our personal drivers are not around (personal drivers= husbands, fathers, and brothers, hehe!). We've heard that mini buses that ply the streets have ladies section at the back but we doubt ladies would want to ride on this:
For those who are not in Saudi Arabia, do know that there's no means of commuting for the ladies here. (Thank goodness because we are not riding that
crap bus with reckless drivers!) Imagine, no other public transportation! No buses for short trips, no jeepneys to make '
para' everywhere, and no tricycles for short trips. There's only the service buses or coasters of the workplace and personal cars for those who have their families with them. We're literally at the mercy of men when it comes to transportation. And the lone public transpo is not even deemed safe!
There are a lot of stories of Filipinas who went missing when they rode taxis but we can't verify them.
News, even rumors,
here is censored. (We'll tackle this censorship some other time.) True or not, these reports never fail to send shivers down our spine. There are stories of Filipinas getting into taxis whose drivers raped them or sold them to other men. There are stories of being stopped by thugs and the passengers are taken to the desert never to be found. There are stories of being sexually assaulted and harassed. A lot of stories are out there but it's hard to get the actual facts because details went through a lot of people and somehow, they get tampered with and sensationalized. You'll get a few version of one story alone. We don't know for sure if those happened for real but the point is,
there are scary stories and we couldn't take the risk.The Pink Tarha ladies have our own share of riding the public cab, whether alone or with a group, but again, we are not saying you follow our lead in doing so. We are not experts on Riyadh-commuting but if you really must take that taxi alone or with friends, here are some tips we usually adhere to:
1. Never take a taxi alone unless it's utmost necessary. (And when we say necessary, BOGOs are included!
hehe) Just like what we said earlier, there are other "private" means to go from one place to another. Make sure that you've found, tried, and exhausted all means. For example, if your father is not available, ride with friends though always make sure it's not inconvenient for them to accommodate you (and that you're with a 'legal couple' in the vehicle). For those who live in their housing, get the schedule of your company's shopping buses and be prepared with your list to avoid unnecessary trips to the mall or grocery. Always ask a friend to accompany you if you're going out.
For a lot of hospital employees (and other companies), there is a taxi company called "Hala" that employs private vehicles with certified drivers registered with the hospitals. It's a pretty safe option considering that they are registered under a company. Though they do charge around SR5 higher than a regular cab would, we'd say it's a small price to pay to ensure safety. We happen to have regular Hala drivers who we can call at our disposal if needed. It's a good thing to have a trusted Hala driver in handy so that if you'd ever need a ride, they can fetch you and bring you to wherever you need to be.
2. Pick Indian or Bangladeshi drivers. Okay, so this is discrimination to other nationalities but they can't blame us.
Reports almost always involve Arab drivers (no offense meant, really). We'd like to think that since Indians and Bangladeshis are expats like us Filipinos, they're more conscious of their actions in the Kingdom because there's a lot of stake when they commit wrongdoings. We are in the same situation as far as being mere visitors and workers in the Middle East. Arab drivers like Pakistanis and Aghans look intimidating and there are some Saudi drivers who look like they're just out for a good time. Seriously, we've seen 'em. Again,
hindi namin nilalahat. As a matter of fact, Eyecandy has Afghan driver friends and Sundrenched has a Pakistani driver. But these are the "seasoned" ones, drivers whom we (and our parents) know already.
3. Be paranoid. It helps you become more alert. All your senses will work overtime. You'll be more attentive to your driver's actions and your surroundings. Whenever you ride a taxi alone, play out scenariois in your head like what if the driver takes a wrong turn or guns the engine and takes a different route? What will you do?! Your mind will be forced to look for answers.
The first thing Eyecandy usually does when she gets into a cab alone is she texts the registration number of the cab, along with a physical description of the driver, even distinct decorations in a driver's vehicle, (and she can get very very descriptive... she notices everything, including moles and probably pimples of the driver! LOL) to a friend or relative when going out on her own in a regular taxi. That way, should anything happen to her, we can hope that the police will have enough information to catch the sunovabitch! :P
4. Go with your gut feel. If something doesn't feel right, it doesn't feel right! Don’t ignore the warning bells in your head. If something doesn’t feel right with the taxi or the taxi driver, then ask the driver to stop the car in a rather populated area, pay your fare and get out. You can always hail another one. For example, the taxi driver eyeing you on the miror with a menacing grin is a telltale sign. Or, the driver holding his crotch while looking at you in his peripheral vision (true story) should send alert signals in your brain. Get out of taxi while you still can.
5. Know where you're going. As a general rule, only take a taxi alone when you know where you're going. You should know the directions to the place. You should be the one directing the driver. Not knowing what street to take gives the driver more chances to lead you away from your destination. Also, make sure that you're almost always in a highway or a major road/street where there are lot of cars, establishments, and people. Most popular places are reachable by using these major thoroughfares. Problem begins when he takes you in unknown streets in residential areas. This might disorient you. Remember that most houses here are surrounded by high walls so no one will hear you if you shout for help.
6. Know basic Arabic phrases. Asalam wa alaykum (hello) and
Shukran (thank you) won't just cut it. You should know basic phrases and sentences that will get you to your destination. You don't have to be fluent in Arabic to speak to them. But of course being fluent is better. We're not fluent Arabic speakers too, but we'll publish right after this an entry of 'colloquial' terms that most taxi drivers should be able to comprehend.
Always greet your drivers with "
Asalam wa alaykum" as a sign of mutual respect. Now, should the driver be an ass along the way, passing you dirty looks or inappropriately asking for your mobile number, we wish to teach you the bad words, but for the sake of being decent, just tell him "
La Oku, hada HARAM!" -- which should translate to him as, "No Brother, that is forbidden!"
7. Speak up! Don't be afraid to tell your driver what you think. If the driver takes an unfamiliar turn, ask him why he's using that route. Or tell him to go back to the route that you know. Tell him to "slow down!" if he's going too fast.
We've already told you how dangerous the roads drivers here are. They're the "Faster and More Furious" kind. A little chit chat is okay but don't be too friendly. He might mistake it for "interest." You can always keep to yourself though.
8. Get the plate number. Vehicles have new plate numbers now which have numbers you can read (not in Arabic). Four numerals and 3 letters. Remember the plate number of your taxi and text it to someone, especially when you're taking a 15-minute or longer ride. Some taxis still have Arabic numbers so know how to read them too (this will also be helpful when shopping, lol). There is also a registration plate inside a taxi (usually hanging at the back of the driver's seat) so you can also take down the numbers in it.
9. Arm yourself with "some thing." Whether it be a ballpen or a black belt in Karate, these comes handy when the going gets tough. Going out on your own in Riyadh is a risk, and you need to protect yourself because you never know what can happen. You can carry a swiss army knife, a fork, a metal chain, or even pepper spray (if you are not as violent as Eyecandy is.) One thing that can easily protect you though when riding normal taxi cabs is to always seat behind the driver so as to prevent him from possibly grabbing you or even touching you. Also, once you enter the backseat, always keep the doors on both sides locked as a pre-caution so that 'bandits' won't be able to enter your car as easy as they think they can.
10. Mind your surroundings. It's not only the taxi driver who can harm you. Those who are on other vehicles around you can cause problems too. Some cars with rowdy youths follow, chase, and taunt taxis with women inside. At first, they just stop their vehicle beside you when waiting at a traffic light but when they notice you're all girls in the taxi, they start grinning and laughing and doing stuff that will divert your attention to them (blast music, dance in their seats, etc.). Ignore them. Wear your
tarha to ward off unwanted attention and mind your actions inside the cab (especially when you're with your girl friends).
This guide is not only intended for ladies in Saudi Arabia though most situations are directly applicable to us. This is also for all ladies who are taking cabs everywhere. Remember that danger is lurking in every corner of the world and we have to be prepared all the time. Also, a
sale, no matter how low prices become, is not worth your life. (
*cough*)
Get tough, ladies!
