Photo: Fb screengrab/Grab
Passengers tired of chatty cabbies and PHV drivers cheer Grab’s new ‘Quiet Ride’ option
SINGAPORE — After Grab announced on Tuesday (Feb 14) that it is now offering rides where you don’t have to talk to—nor even listen to—your driver, netizens cheered.
“You asked for a bit of quiet, we heard you loud and clear. Quiet Ride is now available in Singapore! You can now opt in to conversation-free rides on your Grab app. To do so, tap the "..." button before booking your ride, and toggle on ‘Quiet Ride’. Try it now!” wrote Grab in a social media post.
It was accompanied by a photo of a woman with her hand over her mouth, a clever take on the hit films “A Quiet Place” and “A Quiet Place Part II” where people needed to stay silent in order to survive.
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Netizens, by and large, greeted the new option with a big cheer.
“I like this option. Some drivers can talk non-stop throughout. Quite irritating at times,” wrote one.
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Meanwhile, a differently-abled woman also expressed appreciation for the “Quiet Ride” possibility.
“Thank you for this! I'm autistic with severe anxiety. Going out is already a huge challenge for me. This will make my commutes easier and less stressful.”
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Another commenter joked, “They shld give this option to the drivers too if they need some peace and quiet.”
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One netizen also joked, “For passengers who talk a lot, maybe can add option to select topics so that driver can be well-informed...eg: Current affairs, sports, etc.”
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This led yet another commenter to add that a “caraoke” could also be an option.
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One woman expressed concern that while the “quiet ride” may be free now, it may end up being more expensive later.
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Screenshot from Facebook comments/mothership[/caption]
“Now it's "Quiet ride - Free". Gives me the creepy feeling that someday they'll put a price on it,” she wrote.
On Grab’s site, the process of ordering this type of ride is explained further.
Of course, no ride is ever completely silent.
“During a Quiet Ride, we do our best to inform driver-partners of your preference for minimal conversation. No ride will ever be conversation-free, as some essential communication still needs to happen, such as confirming your name and trip details, asking urgent questions, and saying hello, goodbye, or having a great day!” /TISG
https://theindependent.sg/looks-like-pei-ling-will-grab-her-chance/