Out of the Dark: Calling all Harrisonburg cabs!
Slurring your speech, you slip into the backseat. Three of your friends tumble in beside you, and two others crawl into the front seat beside the already annoyed driver. As you try to remember your address, your friends recall the long night that will soon end.
The ride home is one loud blur, and once you arrive at your final destination for the evening, you fumble through your purse or pocket to pull out a wad of cash, commending the cab driver for putting up with you and your friends. This is an all-too familiar visual of how many college students spend part of their weekend nights.
The last time I was in a cab, I shared the ride with five other people after waiting more than an hour for the cab to pick us up. I was the reluctant recipient of a lap buddy and the cab’s tail end was probably scraping the back tires. The three-mile cab ride cost more than $15, plus tip, all of which was paid for by me.
The demand for cab service around the city is so high, that, although not very deserved, Harrisonburg has been unkindly compared to a mini-Manhattan. Starting a cab company in a college town is very wise, since many college students are smart enough to know that partaking in their “favorite pastime” and driving is not the safest idea, or that they can save their own gas by using up someone else’s.
Because of this, I’m not suggesting that cab companies pack up and move out of the area, but I would like to propose alternatives to dialing your favorite driver so you can save some money and reduce cab congestion around the city. Also, with these hints cab rides can be safer and the frustrating wait can be curbed.
There’s a severe shortage of parking in all the apartment complexes around JMU, but more visitor parking spaces would encourage more people to drive to their destination for the night—and stay there. More visitor spaces means you could leave your car in the complex overnight if necessary, without the fear of getting towed or getting in an accident.
I know it sounds like a lot to ask, but designate a driver for the night. Obviously, it’s best to designate this lucky individual at the beginning of the night. Or you could ask one of your roommates who is staying in for the evening to pick you up at some point. This is probably the cheapest and most enjoyable way to safely make it home.
Cramming as many people in a cab as possible is not safe, not to mention an extreme liability for the cab company if the cab driver got into an accident or was stopped by a cop. If you know you’re going to have more than four or five people in your entourage that night, request two cabs. It will be more expensive, but in this case, more expensive means more safe.
I’ve heard many complaints around JMU about long waits for cab rides. Some have even said that sometimes cabs are no-shows, stranding people and forcing them to get home in other, occasionally unsafe ways.
An alternative to costly cab rides would be to request a ride from SafeRides. Call in advance because the wait for SafeRides can be almost as long as waiting for a cab.
There are also a couple of lesser-known cab companies around Harrisonburg like Fiesta Cab, Custom Transportation and Cart Transportation. Calling for these cab services instead of the more popular ones, although adding more cab traffic to the roads, would reduce the waiting time because these companies are less demanded.
The best alternative to calling a cab would probably be to brave the “drunk bus.” I know many upperclassmen feel they are above it, having paid their dues to the drunk bus during their car-less first year, but I assure you, it’s not bad—particularly when you don’t have to cough up the cash for a cab or risk driving drunk. It’s a free ride, with the possibility of experiencing bus loads of sing-a-longs.
Hopefully these tips will help you pick the best way to get around town during the weekends in a safe and affordable way.
Anna Young is a sophomore SMAD and sociology major.
