Would you recommend the Doha metro?

because private drivers do not have a 'company'. i also have better things to do than waste time going through the complaint system of karwa, especially if it's actually pretty minor and they perceive that there's not much of a case. the aftermath isn't as important as what may happen while you are inside. it doesn't happen often but still

^Why don't you call their company and complain?

i actually think it's safer for a female on the bus here than in a taxi, either private or karwa.

in a taxi you're alone with a driver and you are at his mercy. if you are not familiar with your destination he can take you anywhere he wanted to. buses have fixed routes and there are always people around. women are given priority in the front rows so i always get to sit near the door. karwa bus drivers don't rip off their passengers unlike the taxi drivers. much cheaper too.

i used to take the buses bound for the industrial area because i lived along their route. yes, the laborers do stare but that's all that ever happens. i get verbally harassed by taxi drivers sometimes. even if i sit at the back all the time it's scary because there are just the two of us inside the vehicle. i've had regular private drivers who are actually nice guys at first, probably in general, but they eventually have 'intentions'

Again, if the driver is (), expect a "warm ride".. Maybe they tend to chill faster. Luckily there are more non-() drivers now. I have nothing against ()s, I have some () friends, but their thriftiness is just so unbelievably... boundless. If in a fastfood resto, you only get 2 packets of ketchup & have to pay extra for additional, guess who's the manager in that branch...

Yes Karwa buses are safe and also economical.

They separate female and male passengers.

The first 6 front seats are for the ladies. So if there are men sitting there, they are required to give way.

If the driver is (), they tend to volume down the aircon. I don't know maybe to save gas, but why? The company pays for the fuel. So expect a "warm ride" with them. But mostly there are more non-() drivers now.

SmartCards are available in some supermarkets and all bus stations @QR20, refillable. Without it, you need to pay QR10 per trip. You save QR8 per trip with a SmartCard (QR2 per trip only). Bring a photocopy of your Qatar ID when purchasing one.

HTH

Well, i may differ.

Karwa busses are good, the air con. works real fine. And you happen to see a lot of couples riding them as well.

No, you dont see Labours travelling on them more often, thats not always. Nevertheless, getting your partner a second hand car is always a better option, in which case, i may be able to help you :) All you have to do is INBOX me and we can get things going!!!

The first phase of the metro is to open in 2020 (according to the plan anyway!)

Haha, thanks guys. Sounds EXACTLY like Dubai, so we probably won't be bussing. My wife doesn't drive, so I guess taxis are the next best thing. I hope they have women taxis (female driver). They had these in Dubai. A friend of mine (female) also had a driver try to take her out of the city, likely to assault her. Seriously scary and happens more often than you think. She escaped by opening both back seat doors while he was driving and screaming a lot. He slowed down to close the doors and she jumped out and ran.

tehre is no metror, it is planned and it might be operational in 2025. Existing public transport is not comaparable to that you are used to in Dubai. Most bus stops do not even have a shelter for shade

You need two cars to move around. And be aware, local driving behaviour is terrible.

*Fox* limo, not *fix*. sorry

My husband and I have been here 1 year and are still sharing a vehicle. I don't work so, for the time being, I can be flexible about when I have the car. In the days when he rides into work with a coworker, I will do all of my running around. If I have alot going on or he is too busy to leave me the car, I will take a taxi. It's not perfect, we both make compromises but it's not a huge inconvenience and, for the moment, I don't think we need a second car (this may change next year when I am running our son to school everyday).

For my first few months here, I had no liscence so I took taxi's everywhere. Took fix limo at first because they were recommended by friends -cars are clean, not smelly and they are reliable. Soon switched to Karwa because they are WAY cheaper and have yet to be left waiting when they say they're coming. You have to book at least a few hours in advance however. U can't just pick up the phone and have a cab show up within a half an hour. Returning home is no problem as there are taxis waiting at all the malls and shopping outlets and just driving down the main roads. There are also guys with cars who will offer a ride and give u thier card or number so u can use them as a driver - be careful about this. I would recommend using a driver who is referred to u by a friend. I've used a couple and had one guy who would come right away when I called but then sent me a happy valentines day text so I had to stop using him. A friend of mine also knows someone who was a victim to a sexual predator who picked her up at a mall posing as a driver but then took her someplace, raped her and left her there. Scary! Qatar is a safe place and I feel completely comfortable going about my business on my own or with my kids but it's always a good idea to consider safety and not get into a car with a strange man if ur a woman on your own.

And no, I won't take the bus. I'm sure it's perfectly safe, that's not my issue. Just thinking it would be hot and smelly loaded up with labourers who've been working and sweating in the heat all day. No thanks.

Will have to wait a while for the Metro, the building hasnt even started yet!

what if she like so many wives I know in Doha, chooses not to drive? I think her best options are Karwa taxis booked in advance or pvt drivers, but surely not the bus.

Ryan, even if you're on a low budget, there is a robust second hand market in Qatar. I'd recommend you buying a second car for your wife... I would not let my wife go alone in public buses... at least not in this country.

I agree. Usually a person who is able to sponsor his family to come has enough funds to purchase at least a second hand car.

the buses are used mostly by laborers. A few (very few) women do use them, but most do not feel comfortable doing so. If you are not able to buy a second car, then the best thing is to find a driver and keep his number handy and she can call and use him when she needs to go out. Many drivers are listed in the classifieds section.

Are buses worth looking into? In Dubai they were so hot no one even bothered.

Sorry, saw a project in action and didn't realize it hadn't been completed yet.

There is no Metro in Qatar.