Johannesburg - Until recently, the only time Joburgers used taxis was to and from the airport.
Somehow there’s been a shift.
It could be that people are more conscious of drinking and driving, or perhaps it’s the lack of parking in popular areas like Parkhurst or Greenside.
The most likely reason is that a few new taxi companies have been launched, making this mode of transport affordable, easy and convenient to use.
Whatever the reason, taxis have taken off in the city.
Tap and Hail:
This is a mobile way of booking a taxi, used by two companies operating in Jozi – Snappcab and Uber. The companies are named after the smartphone apps that allow you to request a taxi the moment you need one (not in advance), wherever you are in central Joburg.
The app shows you how far the driver is from you, and you’ll be able to track his location as he or she makes their way to you.
The rides are not paid for in cash, making them very convenient.
You enter your credit card details when you download the app, and all payments are debited from the card.
Uber is backed by Google so it has a huge presence – the app is in use in dozens of cities around the world, so as soon as you land in a foreign city, you can use the same app to request a ride there.
In Joburg, Uber offers UberBlack as a high-end option and UberX as a more affordable option.
With the UberX option, a base rate of R5 is levied, and a charge of R7.50 for every kilometre, or 75 cents for every minute.
Visit www.uber.com/joburg, www.snappcab.com
The only drawback with these services is that they can’t offer you the certainty of advance bookings, such as when you need to leave home at a certain time to get to the airport. For this kind of service, visit www.taxiservicejohannesburg.co.za, where you can book taxi trips or shuttles, and the rates are affordable.
There is also an au pair service that allows parents to arrange for their children to be shuttled safely to and from school or friends’ homes.
Sunday Independent