In planning my experience in Morocco (A 10 Day Moroccan Adventure with Kim Larkin Adventures), I knew that I wanted to spend my travel day exploring Casablanca. As my hotel looked about 30 mins away from the city center, I did some pre research regarding if an Uber app like service existed in Casablanca. After a review of Reddit and some other searching, I identified that the iNDRIVE service existed. This took the power away from taxis charging exorbitant prices and gave the power of making money to the younger generation of Casablanca.
As I regularly use Bolt, Uber and Lyft when I travel – except for in Istanbul – I found some comfort in the idea that iNDRIVE was available.
But, the reality of using the service in Casablanca was a completely difference experience.
The Reality: Taxis vs iNDRIVE
When my Air France flight from Paris to Casablanca landed, I was excited to check in to Atlas Sky Casa – Casablanca Airport and continue later to my booked Casablanca Walking Tour: History & Landmarks by Airbnb Experiences.
I downloaded the iNDRIVE app and quickly requested a ride to Casablanca. After securing a ride for 100 dirham, it felt easy.
Until my driver called me and said that he couldn’t pick me up at the hotel, due to the taxis that were parked there.
Non plused, I gave an upbeat “Okay!” and then asked where I could meet him.
“At the store, down the street a bit” the driver suggested.
I didn’t think it was a big deal. So I began to walk from the hotel, down to the convenience store in question.
That’s when I noticed a car began following me. It was a taxi. It stopped when I stopped. It moved slowly after me. And when I turned to stare the driver in the face – he acted like he was on his phone.
Immediately, my senses were peaked.
Getting Stalked by a Taxi Driver
Shortly after I arrived at the store, the iNDRIVE driver had to cancel the ride. Why? They couldn’t pick me up when a taxi was around.
Immediately I felt a layer of anger and frustration that I rarely feel. It was closer to rage. Raw, anger filled rage. So, I began messaging Soufiane, my tour guide for Casablanca Walking Tour: History & Landmarks by Airbnb Experiences. I explained the situation with him and he offered to reschedule to a later time, a few hours later.
Then, I checked in with my intuition. I felt that I was still going to be able to take my desired tour. But, first – this bird ass taxi driver must be dealt with.
After telling the store owner what was going on, I decided to really test out the patience of the taxi stalker. I looked out side the store – and there he was, in the taxi, waiting at the corner. So, I walked out of the convenience store and walked around the corner to the larger supermarket. Sure enough, the taxi driver noticed I was on the move and followed me.
I spent a few second in the supermarket and then I walked back to the cafe. Sure enough, there he crept. Crawling around the corner. And when I looked at him, he immediately brought his phone to his ear.
I stared right at him and smiled. I wanted him to know that I knew what he was doing.
I walked further up the street, back toward the hotel. Sure enough, there he was following me. So, I turned toward two men that were standing on the sidewalk and asked them for help. In English, I explained the situation. And then, the taxi driver acted like he was driving away…
The Confrontation
I walked back to the first convenience store and took stock on the situation. I knew a few things for certain. The first was that I damn well going to make my tour. The second – was that I might need to take the free shuttle back to the airport in order to get a better rate to my meeting point.
As I thought, a looked up and saw that the taxi driver – the same one that had been stalking me for the past hour, entered the store. Immediately, he looked at me and started berating me in Arabic. I didn’t have to speak the language to read his energy and his body language.
I could tell – energetically – that he was trying to insult me. But, what’s amusing is that you can’t insult someone in a language they don’t understand. He wanted to emphasize that iNDRIVE was illegal and the only way that I could get around Casablanca would be by taxi.
That’s because the taxi drivers do NOT want change. They want to control the system and want no parts of Uber taking any share of the market.
Yet – why would I – a female solo traveler – remotely think getting into a taxi with someone who had been harassing me for almost an hour would be a good idea?
As he talked and realized I was just staring at him, angrily – because he had consistently blocked me using the service I chose – based on his ego. He asked – in English – if I spoked Spanish. I said I didn’t. Only English. And sarcastically thanked him for forcing me to shift my plans over his actions.
In short order, he got frustrated and left. And then, came back to complain at me a few minutes later. Again, I stared at him to make sure that he knew that I still was not getting into his taxi, on principle and also safety. Frustrated again, he left.
I waited until the store clerk looked outside and said that he’d completely left. He empathized that the taxi driver was in the wrong – and should NOT have done that – before I ended up walking back to Atlas Sky Casa.
The Solution
Frustrated, I wanted to keep my rescheduled time with Soufiane. So, I thought of my only option left: take the airport shuttle back to the airport and figure it out there.
Surprisingly, everything worked out as if my mother’s unseen hand guided me forward. While on the airport shuttle, I got into a conversation with a mother and daughter. The mother worked for the UN and was finishing up her time in Casablanca by flying to another worksite.
As I told them of my recent experience, the mother told me of what happened to her the day before while she used iNDRIVE. Once two taxi drivers had realized she was being driven in a car, they’d slammed their cars against the car she was in. Not only that, but they pelted the car with rocks, attacking her driver on the highway as they drove.
The daughter, Cinderella, was going with her mom to the airport to say goodbye. And then, would be returning to Casablanca to her hotel via a taxi.
Graciously, Cinderella said that I could ride with her, with us splitting the fare. Then, the taxi driver would take me the additional way to Église du Sacré-Cœur.
This intuitive pivot allowed me to make my adjusted start time and enjoy the beauty of Casablanca at sunset. Also, Soufiane graciously arranged for me to have a friend of his – another iNDRIVE driver – to safely drop him off and then drive me to my hotel.
And funny enough – in using Google Translate between Arabic and English – we were able to have conversations and later became Instagram friends by the end of the trip.
The Conclusion
I was under a wildly kind assumption that using iNDRIVE in Casablanca would be a straightforward affair. The truth is, if a taxi driver notices that you’re using it and you are outside of the city at a hotel, they will harass and stalk you until you have no choice but to change your plans. It is much easier to use the service in Casablanca proper and NOT around airport hotels.
But, if I would schedule my pre trip experience again – I would stay more in Casablanca and really get a feeling of the life and vibrancy of the city.
Otherwise, be mentally prepared for an outcome that might not be what you originally expected.
