Bahtatboy

seven seas

Just reset the meter after the first drop-off. Shorter waits at point of departure + guaranteed fares for the driver + nobody gets hurt.

Also, it just makes sense.

Patsy Stoned

Or just forget about Dubai taxi and register with www.careem.com

Pulaski

But surely the point is that the person remaining in the cab got a free ride to the point of the first drop-off. So while that cabbie is no worse off the "other cabbie" (who would have taken the dropped-off person to where they were dropped off if they hadn't been sharing) has lost his fare completely. In other words, cabbies as a class get hurt because sharing reduces the overall amount of money spent on cabs. Of course if both passengers get out at the first drop-off, and then a new cab is called/hailed it would achieve the same thing, so clearly the rule/ proposed rule is wildly impractical to enforce.

kittycat1

Pulaski do you work for the RTA?

Pulaski

That's hardly likely because I don't even know what the RTA is!

mikewot

WHOOSH!

Pulaski

Well that's cleared that up!

hnd

Clarification (?) from the RTA:

http://www.thenational.ae/news/uae-n...-offs-in-dubai

Millhouse

Ah, so the intention is to screw the drivers' ability to meet their daily target. We'll it'slal revenue for the RTA one way or another (they could charge the customers two minimum fares or not pay the incentive to the driver ). Easier to abuse the drivers - they are faceless and replaceable.

csdf

I have no idea how they can enforce this unless they install cameras in each cab and employ people to run through every minute to make sure the cabby isn't re-setting the metre.

flood2

The taxi i used from the airport last Wednesday night had been sitting waiting in a queue for over 2 hours till I got in. School holidays, ramadan and the lack of expats that are home will be leading to drop in revenue for the RTA. Maybe they reinforced it again as takings were down

csdf

But the rule decreases revenues by forbidding a new flagfall for each passenger. If they simply allowed multiple drop-offs but requested a payment at each drop off, they'd increase revenue by increasing the number of flag-falls per trip. This is why (mathematically-able) cabbies the world over love short trips because the flagfall is instant revenue for no distance.

Cypselos

Where are they? Are they the ones whizzing down the outside lane with their lights on?

Norm_uk

Seems like another stupid rule.

In most parts of the world you get in a cab and the meter is on and he has to go wherever you tell him until such time as you get out and pay the chap.

If you pick up and drop 20 people all day it shouldn't matter as long as you pay at the end. This is just another example of silly rules which make this place less international and modern.

N.