What is Grab ‘Quiet Ride’?
Grab is one of the most dominant super apps in Asia, offering rides, food delivery and now, financial services. On 15 February, Grab launched its new Quiet Ride service in Singapore. This service can be used for commuters who prefer a private-hire vehicle (PHV) ride with minimal conversation.
Quiet Ride informs your driver if you desire a journey with limited conversation. The function was first launched in Malaysia and Australia before arriving on our shores in Singapore. Quiet Ride is completely free and can be activated and stored for future GrabCar trips by enabling the “Quiet Ride” option in the Grab app.
Quiet Ride informs your driver if you desire a journey with limited conversation. The function was first launched in Malaysia and Australia before arriving on our shores in Singapore. Quiet Ride is completely free and can be activated and stored for future GrabCar trips by enabling the “Quiet Ride” option in the Grab app.
When users enable Quiet Ride, a message will appear in their Grab app mailbox alerting them that the function has been activated. The driver assigned to the booking will be made aware of the user’s desire for minimal conversation. However they may still need to check with the passenger about the trip details.
“During a Quiet Ride, we do our best to inform driver-partners of your preference for minimal conversation,” the company commented.
How do we use it?
The new function is available under the “…” button. Once toggled and booked, the driver will be notified of the request. But, as of now, it is not available for GrabShare and GrabHitch rides.
Ensure that you toggle the button on before booking your rides. If you happen to change your mind and no longer want the ride to be quiet, let the driver know and start conversing!
Public Response towards the feature
Some Facebook comments were that the launch of the Quiet Ride function makes it more comfortable for both driver and rider as both parties would not feel obligated to create a conversation. Others also said that it would be suitable for introverts.
However, there are also some that commented that it may send the wrong signal to drivers about their passengers and the journey could start off on the wrong foot. Others also mentioned that a quiet driver could be a sleepy driver and that sometimes it’s better to talk to the drivers to keep them awake and alert.
Personally for us, in the era of “social” media, this “Quiet Ride” feature is nothing more than an empty experience which promotes an anti-social society. If you want to ride in silence, simply let your driver know. We should not have to rely on app features or special services to get our message across.
Share with us, what are your opinions on this ‘quiet ride’ feature?
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