More people are swapping smartphones for basic "dumbphones" to cut screen time, but one practical worry keeps coming up: how do you get home late at night without a rideshare app? A 20-year-old Perth woman making the switch for her mental health asked exactly that, and locals had plenty of answers.
Book a ride with a phone call
- Uber: call 13-UBER (13 82 37), 24/7. You need a phone that can receive texts; the driver's name, car and plate arrive by SMS. You can also book up to 90 days ahead.
- Swan Taxis: 13 13 30.
- Black & White Taxis: 13 10 08.
- 13cabs: 13 2227.
DiDi has no phone booking option, so it's app only.
Photo: JDP90 (Joydeep) via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0). File photo.
Supervised taxi ranks
According to Visit Perth, supervised taxi ranks run on Friday and Saturday nights at 140 William Street in the city, between Wellington and Murray streets, and on Melbourne Street in Northbridge.
Other tips from locals
- Save taxi numbers in your contacts before you go out.
- Plan your trip home before you leave, as people did before smartphones.
- Carry a printed Transperth timetable for your usual routes.
- Consider a personal safety alarm or a check-in plan with a friend.
- If you're not ready to go fully offline, app blockers or a "minimal" phone can lock out social media while keeping maps and ride apps.
Locals were honest that it's harder than it used to be. Parking, bookings and even some business hours now assume you have a smartphone.
"It is just HARD in the current world." - Perth local
Sources: Uber Australia; Visit Perth; comments from Perth locals.
Photo: Sam Wilson via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0). Perth railway station at night.
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