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Sharjah: Residents are furious with taxi companies because getting a taxi is not easy in Sharjah at most times and when you spot one, the driver refuses to stop.
The taxi companies said they receive a number of complaints every day and are taking measures to educate the taxi drivers.
"We will take action against any complaint that is brought to us. If we get a complaint that a driver refused a passenger then he will be issued a fine and will be given training. If the incident happens again, he will be fired," said Ahmad Al Jaziri, General Manager of Advantage Taxi.
Sharjah Transport runs 2,700 taxis, and there are 1,700 private taxis.
Currently there are four private taxi companies - Advantage Taxi, Union Taxi, City Taxi and Emirates Taxi - operating in Sharjah. These companies are regulated by Sharjah Transport.
"Finding a taxi driver who is willing to stop in Al Wahda Street is almost impossible. I have to wait for ages because they are all speeding and refuse to slow down. It is worst at noon because the heat is unbearable now," said Harpalsingh.
Hemed Saeed, a resident of Maysaloon, found that taxi drivers tend to ignore male passengers, and he is usually left to stand for over half an hour to get a ride.
"It is almost impossible for me to find a taxi in the evening and nobody wants to stop. Sometimes up to four taxis will go past me, and I end up having to wait for half an hour everyday just to go back home," he said.
Maysa Khalid, a resident in Al Khan, said that it is difficult to find a taxi that is willing to take her to nearby areas.
"Many taxis simply do not stop. But when they do and ask me where I want to go, they give the excuse that the traffic in the Buheira Corniche is very bad," she said, adding that it was especially difficult to find one on weekends.
"The main problem is that taxi drivers do not want to go to Dubai. They are always excusing themselves by saying that they do not want to get stuck in traffic on the way back to Sharjah," said Maria de Silva.
Your comments
On Friday I was returning back from Rolla at 8pm with my two-year-old daughter in tow. None of the taxi cabs were ready to take me because they preferred taking labourers to the industrial area where the total bill is higher. After being refused by 15 cabs and waiting in the heat for more than an hour, I finally decided to call it a day.
Evon
Sharjah,UAE
I used to live next to Al Tawun Mall for 1 year and I have to say that best taxi drivers in Sharjah must be impossible to find. My daughter was offended by the drivers if they stopped at all. Drivers were also very rude ? they all refused to go to Dubai, except for one or two who did.
Anna
All Hamra,Sweden
It was a weekend. I wanted to visit my brother in industrial area number 5. I waited in vain for a taxi for around 45 minutes at the Liberty signal. I decided to walk to the New King Faisal Bridge. Eight taxis passed me by and no one stopped. I was very upset.
Mohammed
Sharjah,UAE
Sharjah lacks a developed public transport system. Inter-city movement is totally dependent on taxis, which are insufficient and ineffective. As an immediate measure the authorities may consider introducing bus service in Sharjah. Additionally, permission should be given to Dubai taxis to pick passengers from Sharjah for Dubai from designated taxi stands.
Abraham
Sharjah,UAE
When we shop in any of the malls like City Centre, taxi drivers will not stop for us. Even if they see people with children tugging along.
Vinu
Sharjah,UAE
I would suggest an open taxi system for all the emirates in the UAE. For example, taxis from Dubai can pick up passengers in Sharjah, and vice versa. That way, people will have more choices regarding transportation.
Victor
Sharjah,UAE
The Sharjah government could create mini taxi stands in high footfall areas. This would benefit the taxi driver and passenger. Taxis would always stop at these mini taxi stands as a passenger is guaranteed and vice versa.
Kapil
Sharjah,UAE
Why not start pick up points and shared taxis to a certain destination, this way there will be more taxis to go around? Also, taxi companies need to be more strict with their drivers who have poor customer service and impose heavy fines on violators.
Jennifer
Dubai,UAE
In Sharjah, taxi drivers select passengers based on their desired destination. If you take a short trip with them they whine all the way. The management of these taxi companies is not taking any measure to control this. A taxi driver told me that the company has been getting so many complaints in a day that they just stopped logging them, which is why drivers are not bothered anymore if customers complain to the company.
Fahd
Sharjah,UAE
My family and I were waiting for taxi because we wanted to go to Bur Dubai and the taxi driver refused to take us, saying that the traffic is too bad.
Kushbo
Sharjah,UAE
This is also common in Dubai. Some drivers ask passengers their destination and refuse to take them if the drivers feel it is an inconvenience.
Rohitha
Dubai,UAE
It does not only happen in Sharjah but also in Dubai where most taxi drivers refuse to take you on a short trip. There have been more than four occasions where I have made complaints. Whether action was taken or not is not clear. These drivers truly need to be trained on good customer service.
Anna
Sharjah,UAE
This is true primarily during the day and gets worse on the weekends. Many taxi drivers from most of the private taxi companies have repeatedly refused to take us, specially to Dubai from Sharjah during rush hours.
Ali
Sharjah,UAE
I live in University City. Whenever I call the central taxi dispatch asking for a taxi to be sent over, they give me a bunch of taxi phone numbers to call which is inconvenient. I call the taxis and they would ask me my destination in advance, which should not be asked, and most of the time, they would tell me that they are busy and can't come or need hours to come to the area.
Bassam
Sharjah,UAE
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