World City Guide

Getting Around

Public Transport
There is no underground system in Mumbai but the city is well served by its suburban rail network (see Getting There By Rail). There is also a large number of bus routes run by BEST (Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport) (tel: (022) 2414 3611 or 2414 6262, for 24-hour enquiries; website: www.bestundertaking.com), which provides transport within the city and suburbs. The buses are extremely cheap (the average city-centre fare is Rs8) but it is difficult to determine where the buses go, since the route maps (available at newspaper stands) are virtually indecipherable. Buses are often very crowded and seats hard to come by. Some routes (Bus 1, 65, 66 and 202) operate a round-the-clock service. A small minority of the buses are fitted with air conditioning. Tickets are best purchased from the conductor and although concessional fares are offered, no passes are currently available.

Taxis
Mumbai has a huge number of delightfully dated taxis (in a black and yellow livery) plying for trade on the streets. For the foreign visitor, they represent the best way of getting around the city, especially as auto-rickshaws (a staple form of urban travel elsewhere in India) are banned from the centre of Mumbai. Taxis can be hailed on the street and drivers are reasonably knowledgeable of the geography of the city. All taxis have a meter; these are, however, out of date, so each driver carries a conversion table, with which to compute the correct fare. It is important to ensure that the meter is zeroed before starting the journey. Fares are inexpensive: a journey in the centre of the city will rarely cost more than Rs100. Taxis can also be hired for the day. This is a good way for tourists to see the city and it should not cost more than Rs1,000 for a full day. For those who prefer a higher degree of luxury, Cool Cabs (tel: (022) 2824 6216) provides more modern, air-conditioned taxis, which can only be ordered by telephone.

Tipping etiquette in Mumbai's taxis can be somewhat confusing for the tourist. Some drivers demand a tip quite openly, while others are content with the metered or negotiated fare. A 10% tip is generally acceptable.

Driving in the City
Driving in Mumbai is not recommended to tourists. The streets are chaotic and poorly signposted. There is a huge amount of traffic and road users range from a man driving a single cow to vast trucks. There do not seem to be any rules (although red lights are respected) and the horn is the most commonly-used aid to driving. The road surface in many streets is in a poor state of repair and large potholes are commonplace. Would-be drivers should be warned that many Indian motorists regard the use of lights at night as wholly optional; this potentially is very dangerous.

Parking is a problem on Mumbai's streets and an increase in underground parking lots, around such areas as Shivaji Park, Nare Park and Oval Maidan, have been proposed to accommodate shopping, offices and parking plazas. Many hotels provide indoor parking for their patrons.

Car Hire
Drivers in India must be over 18 years, although many car hire companies will insist on a higher minimum age. To hire a car, drivers will need to present an International Driving Permit and insurance must be arranged at the time of hiring. Avis at the Oberoi Hotel (tel: (022) 2285 7518; website: www.avis.com) provides self-drive hire cars. Royal Cars (tel: (022) 2283 2928) supplies mid-range cars.

Bicycle & Scooter Hire
Scooters and bicycles are popular forms of transport on the crowded streets of Mumbai and there does not seem to be any requirement for cyclists to wear helmets. Scooters are available for short and long term buy back options on well maintained and reliable scooters, from Premjis, 205, Lamington Road (near Apsara Cinema (tel: (022) 2309 9313/9417; website: www.premjis.com). There are also various places, usually small, which hire bicycles cheaply and visitors keen to do so should enquire at a garage.