Bengaluru Cab Driver’s Rules For Passengers Gets A Thumbs Up From Locals: ‘Close The Door Slowly, Don’t Call Me Bhaiya’

Setting boundaries is essential, but a cab driver’s unusually strict list of rules for passengers has triggered a major debate online. In a post doing the rounds on the internet, the driver lays out how passengers should behave during the ride. The photo contains the driver’s guideline sheet, printed and taped behind the front passenger seat.

Shared on Reddit under the title, “This was stuck behind the front seat in my cab to work yesterday,” the man lists six rules for the customers. While some people have praised him for standing up to disrespectful passengers, others have criticised him for being overly strict.

Cab Driver’s Rule

The driver begins by asserting, “You are not the owner of the cab. The person driving the cab is the owner of the cab.”

He then instructs riders to “speak politely and take respect,” and “close the door slowly.” Another line that caught attention reads: “Put your attitude in your pocket, please don’t show it to us because you are not giving more money to us.”

But one guideline in particular has left the internet divided. Addressing autorickshaw drivers or cab drivers as bhaiya is something that comes very naturally to us Indians, but this cab driver requests, “Don’t call us ‘bhaiya’.”

The final and most highlighted rule warns passengers not to ask him to overspeed. “Don’t ask us to drive fast, bee on time,” the note reads, emphasising safety over pressure to reach the destination quickly.

This was stuck behind the front seat in my cab to work yesterday
byu/CluelessFounder_ inBengaluru

What Do Redditors Think?

The post on Reddit drew a flood of opinions. Many users felt the driver had every right to set boundaries, especially when they often face rude or demanding customers. Others, however, were puzzled by the ban on calling him ‘bhaiya.’

“Imagine what that driver has had to go through to put this up,” commented a user.

Another said, “Most of the points are valid, except the bhaiya one (it is a term of respect like paa-ji). Now, not sure how to address one.”

“I mean, fair enough? Isn’t this basic human decency?” read a comment.

An individual stated, “Good. I don’t see anything wrong here. Imagine paying 200 for the ride and acting as if owning a 20L car.”

“Point 1-4 are fine, but point 5 seems very obnoxious and if they do not want to be called bhaiya then print your name also there. No one wants to make them bhaiya, but that’s a general term people use if they do not know the name,” wrote another.

A user remarked, “What is wrong? Well done! The car is his shop, not ours. Courtesy shouldn’t be difficult to practice!”

People are left wondering what they should call the driver instead of “bhaiya.”