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Rabat – Tourists and newcomers to the Rabat region can find a number of guides on the internet for how to traverse the city, including our own from Morocco World News. But to avoid mishaps ranging from hilarious to egregious, here’s a list of advanced-level tips you should know.
Trams
One of Rabat and Sale’s most prominent public transport options is the tramway. With a MAD 6 ($0.55) ticket, passengers can reach most neighborhoods in the two cities. Beware the following, however:
#1 When traveling with a large group, do not all use the same tram door. Otherwise, some unfortunate individuals will be cut off from the rest and left to panic on the streets.
#2 Don’t wait for the passengers before you to insert their tickets into the yellow machine. Get on board first!
#3 If the door closes on you, press the button, but keep in mind it only opens the door for a few seconds.
#4 When asking for directions to a tram stop near the Al Irfane end of Line 1, specify that you mean the “tram” instead of the “tram bus” to spare yourself the misery of wandering around like a headless chicken.
#5 Frequent passengers should keep several valid backup tickets on them in case the ticket machine is broken and the ticket booth worker isn’t there, or if your tram pulls up just as you arrive at the station. If you are caught getting on the tram without a valid ticket, you will be unceremoniously kicked off or fined 50 dirhams ($4.54) — depending on the tram officer’s mood.
P.S. Sure you can run after the tram to catch it, but you will be gawked at by the entire carriage and possibly dubbed “dumb American” by your friend.
Petit Taxis
The petit taxi can take you anywhere around the city, but it’s not as affordable as the other options. Tourists who should take note of the following:
#1 Drivers know landmarks instead of specific addresses. For example, “35, Street Jabal Oukaimeden” means nothing to them, but “MacDonald’s Agdal” will get you near where you want to go. If you have the language skills, you can specify exactly where you want to be dropped off at once you approach your landmark.
#2 News flash: unless your driver is superhuman, speaking in a ridiculous mixture of Classic Arabic, Darija, French, and English will not adequately convey where you want to go.
#3 Two or more people taking a taxi as a group from the same location to the same location should only be charged one fare. During the busiest hours, however, the taxi drivers may be unwilling to take large groups in lieu of more lucrative jobs. If a group is truly desperate, hide your friends when you wave down a taxi, but know that the driver will have a good reason to be a little mad.
#4 Make sure you have lots of change before getting in a taxi because drivers cannot break large bills. Locals sometimes go to hanuts (corner stores) near their destination to get change, but that could be difficult without the necessary language.
Grand taxis & Buses
Despite the somewhat-misleading name, grand taxis are similar to buses in that they are both meterless and follow predetermined routes. Both are intra-city transportations that link nearby cities or smaller outskirts towns.
#1 Do not trust online charts on taxi stations or bus lines, or you may find yourself in the middle of a random city you did not intend to go to. It’s much better to ask a local or the driver for directions.
#2 Although these only run along certain routes, grand taxi drivers sometimes pick up and drop off people anywhere instead of at specific stations. You can ask to be dropped off anywhere as long as it’s along the route. With buses however, stops can only be made at the designated stations around the city.
#3 Plan for potential delays. You may be able to snatch the last seat on a Grand taxi and start your journey right away, or you may have to wait half an hour for the entire six seats to fill up. If you are in a particular hurry, you could offer to pay for whatever seats are still vacant.
“Eleven”
Huh? Don’t worry, “eleven” isn’t some novel form of transportation out of a sci-fi movie. Just the opposite, it’s the most old fashioned way: walking. The term stems from the Darija word “Hdaash” — eleven — a number that resembles the shape of your legs.
You might have been able to walk since you were a baby, but walking in Morocco is quite a different story.
#1 Traffic “laws” are more like traffic “suggestions.” Pedestrians don’t automatically have the right of way, and the green man on the traffic light doesn’t mean anything. Beware of your surroundings when crossing the street.
#2 When in doubt, follow older Moroccans.
Some additional tips for ladies:
#3 Ask a trusted local about the safety of various neighborhoods to learn whether you should walk there alone, after dark, or wearing clothes that expose lots of skin. Use the frequency of verbal harassment you receive as an indicator of the neighborhood’s safety.
#4 Do not confront! Foreigners don’t know how to deal with situations like locals do.
#5 Harassment is annoying, but they almost never escalate beyond verbal comments, so don’t let them deter you from going out.
All of this may sound daunting, but don’t worry if you get lost or make a fool of yourself, because Moroccans will go out of their way to help out a stray traveler. Rabat is an amazing city that awaits your exploration, and mastering public transportation allows you access to all of its wonders.
