Today rideshares are known worldwide and the masses are using this service without thinking twice about getting into a vehicle that isn’t a licensed professional driver.
But in Black communities around the globe the notion of a rideshare is nothing new.
I remember many years ago visiting family in Harlem, NY, where taxis were few and far between. You would have to call to order a taxi and wait hours for them to come to the neighborhood and sometimes they would often not show up. I’m sure this was the case in many predominantly Black neighborhoods.
If we didn’t want to wait or take a chance on a taxi actually arriving, we would take a gypsy taxi. This is what they were called in New York and Washington, DC. These were the rideshares for the communities back then. Locals, non-professionals driving their own car, providing transportation services to the neighborhood so folks could get to where they needed to go. You could find them at any time, would have to negotiate your rate upfront and pay in cash only. We used them many times during our trips to Harlem and some rides were interesting, while most were pleasant.
In Washington, DC, folks knew the neighborhood guys who offered their vehicle for services, especially to and from the grocery store and for seniors needing to get to appointments.
Of course, during the bus boycotts, the communities came together and offered transportation for day workers to get to and from work.
In Chicago and in other cities, they were called Jitney Cabs and operated primarily on the South and West Side.
In South Africa, the local taxis are vans that operate on a schedule between Johannesburg, Soweto and other areas. Established and used during Apartheid out of necessity, they’re still used today. To take these taxis you need to know the hand signals. Index finger up is for City Center or downtown Joburg, Index finger down is for the Local or Joburg to Sandton and Midrand to Fourways, you raise four fingers.
In other countries like Thailand, there’s the tuk-tuk. The design of the tuk-tuk was based on rickshaws, which were fitted with engines in Bangkok after WWII. Typically, they are open on the sides and three-wheeled. The word tuk means “cheap” in Thai, but they will charge tourists looking for a fun and authentic ride more than the locals.
Now you know what it was like, back in the day.
Yours truly,
Ja’Vonne, aka, The Traveling Culturati