What Young Malaysians Wonder, Looking For A Parking Space Against Paying High For A Ride
The next generation has less enthusiasm to get behind the wheel of a car when compared to our generation (aged between 50 and 70 years), where 40 plus years ago we were waiting for any chance to drive a car.
While kicking back and relaxing at the back of the ride-hailing vehicle is all well and good, there are however some legitimate convenience concerns with the entire e-hailing system.
Chief among which is actually the uncertainty of getting a ride or not when you are in a hurry, especially during peak hour and the rising high prices today for a ride (see below the asking price difference to the same location just 115 minutes apart).
The other awkward and inconvenient part of ride-hailing process is perhaps tracking down the ride-hailing driver out on the street. The standing out there looking and fretting where the other party is in relation to where you are is part and parcel of the e-hailing process, but it is still inconvenient nonetheless. This issue is still only with the mature generation.
That said, ride-hailing has improved matters in this regard by adding more specific pickup and drop-off locations, in addition to improving its location services. Regardless of how good technology has improved though, the e-hailing process will always begin with the frantic hand waving and gesturing to hail the ride-hailing driver.
As Little Stress As Possible
On the other hand, it is not exactly like driving is a stress free activity either. Particularly in congested KL where most of the young are/want to be, driving is most commonly with the headache of being stuck in traffic or the stress of looking for a parking space.
Living in the city too means public transit is good enough to make it to most destinations. Besides, if and when going out in a group, there will always be one kind soul within each friend group that is the ‘designated driver’ to smooch off for a free ride.
For the few times that a multi-stop trip needs to be made, or if one wants to go further afield, there is always the option of renting a SoCar or a GoCar for the few hours. Granted, there is the hassle of going to find the car, but nothing the tech savvy youths off today can’t manage.
