UAE | Traffic and Transport
The never-ending queue
The taxi service in the city is getting worse, according to residents, despite comments by the Dubai Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) that steps are being implemented to improve the situation.
- By Ashfaq Ahmed, Chief Reporter
- Published: 23:46 August 5, 2008
- The queue for taxis stretches down the block outside of Lamcy Plaza. Residents say they have to wait too long for taxis.
- Image Credit: Megan Hirons/Gulf News
Dubai: The taxi service in the city is getting worse, according to residents, despite comments by the Dubai Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) that steps are being implemented to improve the situation.
The RTA on Tuesday announced 400 new taxis are being added to the Cars Taxi fleet.
But to commuters the situation seems to go from bad to worse, be it the tortuous exercise of hailing a taxi, the long waiting time in queues at shopping malls or the drivers' refusal to take passengers for short distances or to congested areas.
'Promises'
"The RTA's Taxi Agency has made many promises to improve the service but we have not noticed any change so far," said Nazim Rao.
He is tired of waiting for taxis and is planning to buy a car.
There are already 854,000 registered cars for 1.4 million people in Dubai.
The RTA announced at the end of last year it would start an SMS service to make taxi booking easier, in addition to starting a telephone booking service for all the franchise taxi companies, but so far the services have not been launched.
Gulf News has learnt that only 3,200 Dubai taxis are currently available for online and telephone bookings, whereas some 3,300 taxis being operated by franchise taxi companies do not offer this service.
Most of the Dubai taxis are assigned specific tasks. More than half of the total number of around 6,500 taxis are assigned to specific places such as Dubai Airport, hotels, exhibition centres and the major conferences, adding to the acute shortage of taxis in the city.
"The RTA said earlier no driver has the right to refuse a passenger but the practice is rampant, as drivers refuse to give us a ride for short distances and to congested areas," said Salma Hyat, a resident of Deira.
She said a plan to set up taxi stands in different areas in the city was also announced by the RTA early this year, to make it easier to get taxis, but so far this has not materialised.
Abdul Aziz Malek, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Taxi Agency said: "We have to put an end to all practices that have a negative impact on the quality of taxi services, such as the phenomenon of drivers' refusal to take passengers to their destination because of of traffic congestion."
Malek also announced yesterday the addition of 400 new taxis to the fleet of one of RTA's franchise companies, Cars Taxi in Dubai.
The total number of taxis in Dubai is now 6,900 with the addition of new cars.
"The RTA is continuously working side by side with franchise companies to upgrade the level of service rendered to citizens, residents, visitors, tourists and various sectors of the community," he said.
"Problems encountered by cab drivers have to be accurately diagnosed and reviewed so as to find solutions that can boost the level of services provided, and help keep pace with the continual demand for taxis," Malek said.
Dubai's population has exceeded 1.4 million while some 7 million visitors now come to Dubai every year.
Short rides: Say no to refusals
"No taxi driver can refuse a ride for a short distance," said Abdul Aziz Malek, CEO of the Taxi Agency at the Dubai Roads and Transport Authority.
He said passengers should complain to the RTA if they have a bad experience with drivers or they are refused a ride.
In case of any complaints against drivers or suggestions, a passenger should call Dubai Taxi at 04 208 0888 or log on to the RTA's website at www.rta.ae to fill an online complaint form.
Passengers can also call the RTA call centre number at 800 9090 to complain about bad service.
How long do you usually wait before getting a taxi? Have you found the RTA call centre helpful? What are the most common problems you face with taxi services? Tell us at letter2editor@gulfnews.com or fill in the form bellow to send your comments.
Your comments
I mostly face problems with the taxi drivers refusing to go to sharjah during weekdays and weekends
Mr. Ahmed
Dubai,UAE
Posted: August 06, 2008, 09:33
Most driver's are refusing to go to places where they will pass thru SALIK, either they charge u additional 4 AED (aside from the initial 4 AED)for their return trip. Why not exclude public transport from SALIK so this could at least lighten the issues regarding refusal of passengers?
Chili
Dubai,UAE
Posted: August 06, 2008, 09:23
I have personally waited for three hours for a taxi at Lulu Hypermarket in Ghusais on a Saturday afternoon, and on the next weekend it took me less than 15 seconds to get a taxi at Mall of the Emirates on a Saturday afternoon. This has been the case for over a year now.
Nick
Dubai,UAE
Posted: August 06, 2008, 09:09
My use of taxis has increased recently. I wait an average of 15 to 20 min for a taxi. It just a matter of planning for me. I call the call center 30 to 45 min prior leaving, depending of the time of the day. I avoid the window 3:30 4:30 when most drivers are shifting. The call centre so far has been very helpful (very polite agents). Many of them are aware about the taxi situation, they just doing their job.
Taxi drives? some are good, excellent, and of course the bad ones. Who/What to blame? RTA, Municipality? All these organizations are combining their efforts to make our life easier.. At the end of day, we have to wait, and keep on writting comment on Newspapers about how frustrated we are. I do believe that Dubai Metro will ease the situation.
I just say to myself, "keep faith it's part of the big plan..."
Laurent
Dubai,UAE
Posted: August 06, 2008, 09:02
It is even worse at Lulu Hypermarket in Qusais. You can not see even a single Taxi over there. There are illegal taxi operators, who make good business. I had a very bitter experience by a taxi who refused take me as my trip was of short distance. I argued with the driver and even complained to the Dubai Taxi helpline number. Driver said he is not bothered about the complaint as the company will not take any action against him.
Brijesh
Dubai,UAE
Posted: August 06, 2008, 08:35
Taxi drivers refuse a ride for short distance or congested area. More often even a passenger is already inside the car the driver will ask you to go down after hearing where you will go or he will take you, but he will complain on you while he is driving going to your destination.
Rona
Dubai,UAE
Posted: August 06, 2008, 08:27
Whether I go to a mall or the market or the hospital I am not able to get a taxi. Dubai is growing everyday and something serious should be done.
Cheryl
Dubai,UAE
Posted: August 06, 2008, 08:17
I usually wait 1.5 hour every day in Deira and no one show up and i usually end asking some of my colleague to offer me a lift.
RTA call centre is useless since they start laughing when I make a complain.
Drivers are the worst they start speaking and replying in their own native language neither arabic or english.
Drivers don't open the cars lock until you tell them from the window where are you heading to and if they didn't like the place they will just drive away leaving you like a begger in the streets.
Ashraf
Dubai,UAE
Posted: August 06, 2008, 08:02
Many times you don?t get a taxi at all, and when I have a chat with the driver they always are unhappy about their working conditions and pay and therefore take it out on passengers, the drivers go the long way round just to avoid signals and traffic but in the bargain we end up paying more. If you call a taxi you incur call charges then the taxi driver gives a miss call you have to call him back and explain location and then you pay Dhs 3 more in spite of that very bad service.
Barkha
Dubai,UAE
Posted: August 06, 2008, 08:01
When I complain to 8009090 against they refuse to take my complain saying to get booking ref number now we all know we never get that while booking a taxi
barkha
dubai,uae
Posted: August 06, 2008, 07:58
Usually it will take 45 min to 1 Hour. My worst experience includes 3 hrs waiting for taxi in media city, 2.5 hrs spend in bur Dubai after 8 pm...And lot more.
In my experience the RTA info call centre service is good, but regarding the Complaint Cell its just worst than the taxi service. The taxi drivers NEVER MINDS though we logged the call regarding his unlawful practice to RTA in front of him
Aji
Dubai,UAE
Posted: August 06, 2008, 07:56
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