If you’re standing out in the rain and the cold trying to hail a taxi when none are around, you’re living in the past. There are a multitude of taxi-booking apps for your smartphone out there, and one particular app has just received a useful new feature. goCatch now lets you see how much competition exists for the taxis in your area, giving you a better idea of how long you’ll be waiting.
goCatch’s new update, on both iOS and Android, means that the app shows the “relative busy-ness” of the taxi network, with a fire-warning-esque four levels ranging from Normal to Crazy. The app tells you that in busier times, it might take longer for a driver to accept your fare, and suggests that you ramp up your booking fare to make your request more attractive to all the taxis out there.
While we don’t support the idea of offering extra money to taxi drivers, having the extra information of how many bookings are being made in your area should come in handy. And, of course, if there aren’t any free taxis, there’s always Uber.