'Autos are a huge headache in Chennai'

We'd asked you, dear readers to share your experience about taxis and autorickshaws in India.

Here are some of the responses we received. You can share yours too.

Abhishek Newatia from Kolkata shares his experience:

I too had a really bad experience with auto/taxi services in Kolkata. Uber/Ola were not active then in Kolkata.

On the eve of Durga Puja, I was returning home from my office at around 8 pm.

I usually take an auto but I was feeling feverish and decided to take a taxi instead.

Unfortunately almost for 40 minutes, not a single taxi driver or rickshaw driver came to my help.

I urged several taxi drivers that I was ill and needed help.

I was willing to pay extra as well.

I finally had to take a bus where a passenger offered a seat. That day I was running a temperature of 104 degree celcius.

These taxi drivers feel threatened today as there is a better service available at affordable rates and we as passengers are no more at their mercy.

If these online options are constrained, I will not be surprised as the lawmakers don't have to go through the kind of pain we city dwellers face.

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Reader Satz from Chennai shares his plight:

In Chennai, I don't prefer to drive since I Iearnt driving abroad and the 'close quarters, no holds barred' driving you see in India is not for me.

Autos were a huge headache in Chennai since I had to bargain for price each day and the meters were finally mandated after decades of apathy.

Now I had to find a driver who agreed to a meter, which would take anywhere between five to 35 minutes.

I have never been happy with MTC (Metropolitan Transport Corporation ) as I have seen the conductors blame passengers for lack of change and they are an unruly lot.

The politicians and police are hands in glove as they reportedly own some of the autos. And the bus union thinks they are untouchable.

Fortunately, Ola and Uber have solved some headache, but they are not fully reliable

During the rains yesterday, there was ridiculous surge pricing. I tried Ola share to keep it to a minimum. The Ola drivers are scared about Ola money customers saying Ola does not compensate them in time. It cost me one hour yesterday.

Often when the cell network is poor, there is no alternative by way of phone booking.

During heavy rains, I really can't see many passengers getting help unless they encounter the rare good human being.

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Dear Readers,

What's your experience been like with auto and taxi drivers been?

Do you get rides at first request? How do you deal with arrogant drivers?

Do you think cab operators like Ola and Uber are better alternatives in your locality?

Share your views and experiences, good and bad with us. Write to getahead@rediff.co.in (subject: Auto and Taxi Woes) along with your NAME, AGE and the place you LIVE in. We'll publish the best ones right here on Rediff.com.

Lead image used for representational purposes only. Image: Ahmad Masood/Reuters