Exploring new cities is one of the great thrills in life and an important part of visiting a new city is using local transportation. If you are traveling to a new place soon and you plan to use rideshare apps to get around, then make sure you are familiar with which ones you are going to use and how they work. Ridesharing is one of the greatest travel inventions of the twenty-first century and it provides a convenient way to get from place to place, but that doesn’t mean that you should have your guard down. This is especially important when you are in a new city where you don’t know the customs and you might not even know the language.
When traveling and using transportation services like rideshares, you should always be aware of your surroundings and take the proper precautions. Read below to find out some good safety tips for exploring unknown cities through rideshare.
Research the Popular Rideshare Apps in the City You Are Visiting
Before setting off on your fun journey, make sure that you do a little bit of research about your transportation options. This is especially important if you are traveling to more remote locations or countries that do not have the more common rideshare apps like Uber and Lyft. some countries in Europe have apps like FreeNow that are similar to the apps you are used to but may have different processes.
Once you are acquainted with foreign rideshare apps, make sure that you input your payment information ahead of time so that you are not scrambling to put it in while you are jet-lagged after a long-haul flight. If you are planning on traveling to a different country for your next trip, also make sure that you have a plan for cell phone coverage so that you can have enough service to call a car when you arrive.
Verify Driver Details Before Entering Any Car
Once you have conquered the rideshare apps and you are ready to be picked up, there are a few things you can do to be safe when the driver pulls up. The first thing you should do is look at the license plate of the car picking you up. The rideshare app will alert you of the number once you have been matched with a driver, so keep an eye out for it so that you do not accidentally get into the wrong car.
The next thing you should do is wave them down but wait until they say your name first. This is an added verification that your driver has your name in their system and your apps are synched. After they say your name, you can say theirs to confirm the business transaction. Once you are seated in the car, look around for authentication details. Most drivers will have a card in view that displays their license to operate as a rideshare driver as well as their credentials. Once all of this is confirmed, you can feel better knowing that you have all of their information in the unlikely event that anything goes sideways.
Keep a Record of Everything if an Incident Occurs
In busy cities, sometimes things can happen on the roads that are out of your control. Rideshare drivers are trying to get their customers to their destinations in a timely manner so that they can pick up their next ride, but sometimes things like fender benders can occur. If you end up in a situation where your rideshare car gets into an accident of any degree, then you should stay as alert as possible as you may need to remember details of the incident at a later date. Sometimes when traveling, these things happen and if you get injured in a rideshare accident then you must contact a personal injury lawyer when you get back to your own city. This is especially important if the incident happened in a foreign country because you might not have been able to communicate with the authorities there.
This is why recording as much as you can is important. You will already have the details of the driver in your rideshare app’s history, but you should also try to take photos and write down details in your phone’s notes app. If you were injured to any degree, you may be entitled to compensation of some kind. Although this is a scenario that doesn’t happen often, it is something to always be prepared for.
Always Share Your Location with a Family Member or Friend
This is a great rule of thumb when you do any kind of traveling, but especially important when you are getting into the cars of strangers. Before you go on your trip, decide who you want as your emergency contacts and who you want to share your location with while you are gone. Many of the rideshare apps out there also include a feature that allows you to share your rides with someone in your contacts, adding another layer of safety as you ride from place to place. Whenever you enter a rideshare car, you should send your designated people a quick text highlighting where you are and where your intended destination is. Then, when you arrive, send them another text alerting them that you have arrived safely. Although this may seem overkill, it is never a bad idea to be as safe as possible.
Stay Aware of Your Surroundings
Whenever you enter a rideshare car, make sure that you are staying aware of your surroundings as your driver pulls away. Take note of monuments, street names, and buildings that stand out. This will not only help you get to know the city better but will also help you notice if the driver is taking you the long way around or to somewhere that doesn’t seem correct. Along the same lines, you should always verify the address of your final destination with to driver and make sure they put it into their maps app correctly.
You can also keep track of your journey on the rideshare app, which should have a map guiding you from point A to point B. It is easy to sit down in the car and immediately get lost in your phone, but it is important to stay vigilant when you are visiting a new city. This is essential not only for your safety but for enjoying the sights in the new city as much as you can.
Do Not Reveal Personal Information
Besides what you have on your rideshare app, you should not share any extra personal information with your rideshare driver. Although it is normal to pick up a friendly conversation with your driver, you should use that time to talk about the city and ask for any recommendations. There is no need to share which hotel you are staying in or any other specific details. If the driver asks where you are staying to give you recommendations, then tell them the neighborhood, not the exact address.
Get Familiar with the Safety Features of Each Rideshare App
When you download a new rideshare app before you leave for your trip, take a few minutes to get acquainted with its safety features. Many apps have a button that you can press to report a driver if needed while others allow you to share your journey with a trusted friend or family member. This should take no more than a few minutes and will help set your mind at ease before your big trip.
Keep Your Phone Charged and Close
When you are traveling to a new city, your phone is your lifeline, so you need to constantly keep it charged. If you know you are going to be out all day every day while on your trip, then keep a portable charger in your bag. Your phone is also your connection to the rideshare driver where you can track the trip, give them a tip at the end, and give them a review. When you get into any rideshare car, take a glance at their phone to make sure they have inputted your destination address, and then open up your own maps app and follow it as they drive. This will help you feel better about your journey if you are nervous about getting lost or the driver taking you somewhere they shouldn’t be.
On top of everything else, your phone can be used to call anyone from family members to the police. When you go to a new city, if it is in a foreign country, one of the first things you should do is learn the three-digit emergency number because every country has a different one. This will come in handy if something goes wrong during your rideshare but also in many other circumstances while you are traveling.
Getting the opportunity to explore unknown cities is a great chance to learn about the history, culture, and cuisine of a place. Getting around a city is an essential part of the exploration process and using rideshares is one of the easiest ways of doing it. If using this kind of transportation makes you nervous, just follow the safety tips in this article and enjoy yourself.
