Residents are furious with taxi companies because getting a taxi is not easy in Sharjah at most times and when you spot one, the driver refuses to stop.

The taxi companies said they receive a number of complaints every day and are taking measures to educate the taxi drivers.

"We will take action against any complaint that is brought to us. If we get a complaint that a driver refused a passenger then he will be issued a fine and will be given training. If the incident happens again, he will be fired," said Ahmad Al Jaziri, General Manager of Advantage Taxi.

Sharjah Transport runs 2,700 taxis, and there are 1,700 private taxis.

Currently there are four private taxi companies - Advantage Taxi, Union Taxi, City Taxi and Emirates Taxi - operating in Sharjah. These companies are regulated by Sharjah Transport.

"Finding a taxi driver who is willing to stop in Al Wahda Street is almost impossible. I have to wait for ages because they are all speeding and refuse to slow down. It is worst at noon because the heat is unbearable now," said Harpalsingh.

Hemed Saeed, a resident of Maysaloon, found that taxi drivers tend to ignore male passengers, and he is usually left to stand for over half an hour to get a ride.

"It is almost impossible for me to find a taxi in the evening and nobody wants to stop. Sometimes up to four taxis will go past me, and I end up having to wait for half an hour everyday just to go back home," he said.

Maysa Khalid, a resident in Al Khan, said that it is difficult to find a taxi that is willing to take her to nearby areas.

"Many taxis simply do not stop. But when they do and ask me where I want to go, they give the excuse that the traffic in the Buheira Corniche is very bad," she said, adding that it was especially difficult to find one on weekends.

"The main problem is that taxi drivers do not want to go to Dubai. They are always excusing themselves by saying that they do not want to get stuck in traffic on the way back to Sharjah," said Maria de Silva.

http://www.gulfnews.com/nation/Traffic_and_Transport/10133379.html