Due to the large population residing, the cities are often busy. This hinders the commuting or other traveling tasks. One of the common terms in this regard is the rush hour. This is the time of the day when the traffic is quite crowded. Many people are usually going to the office or school during rush hour. Therefore, driving or riding on a taxi service Amsterdam almost takes twice the time than usual hours. 

We have prepared a short guide for you on the tricks for taxi drivers and riders to beat the rush hour.

Effective Taxi Hacks for Busy Cities

Share the Ride

The taxi fares are usually high during the rush hour. If you have to book a taxi on a daily basis, paying high fares will become quite costly for your monthly budget. After all, paying for the rides is not the only expenditure you have. Hence, ask a friend or colleague to share their commuting with you. You can even ask the chauffeur to let another passenger sit in the car, in order to divide the payment.

There is a specific term for it, called carpooling. This is also effective in reducing the number of vehicles on the road as most of you will be sharing them. 

Book Early or Late

If your office supports flexible timings, then book the taxi early or late. Basically, you should avoid traveling during the rush hour, as it is going to waste a lot of your time. Ask your manager if it is possible to change the work schedule. Hence, you can be on the road when the traffic is light. 

If you are going shopping, there is no need to consider a taxi during the busy hours of the day. Pick some other time and give the road to the commuters. 

Pick a Different Route

Picking a different road or route is also the solution. Ask your taxi driver to skip the busy path and choose another instead, regardless of its length. The long drive is better than sitting idle in the car, hurting your physical well-being. As per our research, heavy traffic can result in more fatigue. The longer route will allow you to feel relaxed.

If the other route with light traffic is longer, leave your house earlier. If you think this might cost you more, do carpooling here too, as stated earlier.

Stay Calm

We often undervalue the power to remain calm. The high traffic and hectic lifestyle of cities can pressurize the human mind. This way, one can feel more stressed, which interrupts other chores. Hence, whether you are a taxi driver or passenger, have patience. If the roads are crowded, do not get frustrated as this may lead to anger or irrational decisions.

If you rent a car with driver in Amsterdam or elsewhere and are unable to avoid heavy traffic, keep your mind off it. Wear headphones and play calming music. The drivers can do this as well; however, they should ask the passengers first to turn on the vehicle’s music system.

Safety of Car

Stay focused on the car safety as well, and this is in particular for the taxi drivers. Also, there is a three-second guideline for maintaining an appropriate distance between two cars on the road. Follow such fundamentals to save the car as well as the passengers. 

Moreover, keep the car speed slow. It should be slow enough to prevent colliding with any other car, person or thing. Always stay mentally active for any emergencies or changes. Just like cars, you should watch out for cyclists or motorcyclists as well. 

Go for the Alternatives

If a taxi does not feel like the right choice to be on the road during the rush hour, look for alternatives. One alternative is the bicycle. Another less pricey option is walking. It is perfect for shorter distances and helps to boost the physical health of a person. However, you will feel tired on longer distances. 

Buses or trams will be less pricey than taxis, if you like to change the transportation. Furthermore, if you can switch your on-site job to a remote one, then go ahead as it has nothing to do with the heavy traffic. 

Conclusion

Rush hour is common in busy cities which is due to heavy traffic on roads. People are commuting during this time and it usually happens once in the morning and once in the evening. To avoid the trouble, you can either leave your house early or a bit late. However, this can challenge your work routine.

Furthermore, you can ask the taxi driver to adopt a different route. Another solution is letting one or more passengers ride with you. It is best to ask your colleagues for carpooling. This way, you can divide the fare and lessen the number of vehicles on the road.