Taxis - تاکس ها

There are two types of taxis, ordinary Teheran taxis, which operate more like buses, and “dar bast” which means shut door, which take you where you want to go, just like a European taxi. Sometimes an ordinary taxi will offer to take you “dar bast”, but usually there are other passengers on board who expect to be taken along the normal route.

To use the ordinary taxis you have to know the name of the main square or junction that you want to get to, and if there is no direct route, you need to know the intemediary interchanges. You also have to know which street corner points in that direction. This is pretty impossible when you don’t know your way around, but once you have established a few patterns it works really well.

Typical taxi stop, just stand here and shout.

So to get from Enghelab Sq to Haft-e-Tir, you have to stand on the NE corner of the square. You will know if you are in the right place if it is congested with taxis and you can hear other people shouting (actually more like mouthing) the same words. If you start asking for the wrong place some one will usually put you right and point you to the correct corner. Taxis coming towards you will probably slow down and the may beep. You have to catch the drivers eye and shout where you want to go. If they ignore you or give you the anti-nod (an almost imperceptable upward jerk of the head) this means they are not going that way. If they are, then they will slow down enough for you to get in.

Once in, there is the problem of payment. The official prices are really cheap, and with inflation the way it is the drivers often ask for more, but don’t worry, its still very little and most people pay without question. The longest rides may be more than a thousand (yek hezar) but if you offer a thousand you will get the right change. It is customary to pay just before you want to get out, but this requires you to know all the streets. If in doubt just keep repeating your destination.

It is my aim on this blog to start a list of all the regular routes. If you know any please send them here...