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Sydney2002
Joined: 10 Apr 2012
Posts: 55
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 Posted: Mon Apr 16, 2012 6:34 am Post subject: Public Transport in Oman?? |
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Hi everyone
I spoke with a co-worker of mine who lived in Oman for about four years. She said that public transportation was VERY expensive there, especially in Muscat.
Is this true? Is it possible to live in Muscat and not have a car? I know that it's probably a necessity for any other part of the country, but I was kind of hoping the capital would be an exception.
Thoughts? |
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Turbster
Joined: 09 May 2009
Posts: 67
Location: UK
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| Posted: Mon Apr 16, 2012 10:15 am Post subject: |
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By public transport, you can only mean taxis, and baiza buses!
Both are 'cheap as chips' once you get your head around the haggling/take it or leave it process.
Taxis: My wife just jumps in, says where she is going and how much she will pay  Shared taxis are even cheaper!
Baiza buses: Take you in the 'general direction' of where you are going, but are rarely an option for females, with so many men on board! |
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veiledsentiments
Joined: 20 Feb 2003
Posts: 17644
Location: USA
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| Posted: Mon Apr 16, 2012 2:07 pm Post subject: |
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Actually some have posted here that a car isn't as crucial out in the hinterlands - in the smallish towns and villages - as it is in spread out Muscat. I don't believe that Turbster is in Muscat.
Basically Oman (and the rest of the Gulf) is like American suburbia. One can rarely, if ever, find a bus that goes from wherever you are to wherever you need to go. Rarely is your housing in walking distance of shopping. And taxis do become expensive to use regularly... and often are hard to find.
In both of my stints in Oman, I had a car within days of arrival. I would consider a car to be one of the most important things to have to make your life there pleasant, but then I'm American and we do love the convenience of our own wheels. 
VS |
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Nolan Chance
Joined: 13 Apr 2012
Posts: 45
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| Posted: Mon Apr 16, 2012 3:04 pm Post subject: |
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| veiledsentiments wrote: |
Actually some have posted here that a car isn't as crucial out in the hinterlands - in the smallish towns and villages - as it is in spread out Muscat. I don't believe that Turbster is in Muscat.
Basically Oman (and the rest of the Gulf) is like American suburbia. One can rarely, if ever, find a bus that goes from wherever you are to wherever you need to go. Rarely is your housing in walking distance of shopping. And taxis do become expensive to use regularly... and often are hard to find.
In both of my stints in Oman, I had a car within days of arrival. I would consider a car to be one of the most important things to have to make your life there pleasant, but then I'm American and we do love the convenience of our own wheels.
VS |
I think this is sound advice. Oman is not like Abu Dhabi where ( at least as it was 20 years ago when I was there) if you are in a central area you can walk out of your door and jump into a taxi with a Pathan driver. In Oman the taxi drivers are all local and very often part- timers who'll pick you up if they want to. If they are on their way to somewhere else (such as lunch) they won't even bother to stop.
I'd go further and say that if there are two of you that you'll need two cars. And even if there's one of you it's a sad fact that little bumps happen often and faults develop regularly in a 50C climate.
On top of this, there's your image. Students will find it odd and eccentric of you not to have a vehicle ( and a pretty decent one at that). If you don't they could well view you subconsciously at least with a touch of disrespect. Appearances do matter.
In short: Get a a vehicle as soon as possible.
By the way I'm assuming you're a guy. Females shouldn't even dream of walking around. |
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Sydney2002
Joined: 10 Apr 2012
Posts: 55
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| Posted: Tue Apr 17, 2012 12:00 am Post subject: |
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I am not a guy. And I do like to walk around. This is exactly why I started this thread. I am a frequent walker, as I have some problems with motion sickness. I've walked for as long as two hours one way to get where I need or want to go in other countries I've lived in, even in blistering heat (which I tend to like). If it's too far, or I'm in a huge hurry, I will take public transport.
In my country, I have a car. It's not really an option. I would still like to think it is an option in Muscat. I recently had the pleasure of meeting an Indian couple from Sohar who told me that a car is necessary everywhere in Oman except the capital. And the wife seemed not at all bothered by the idea of walking around in Muscat. I told her that motion sickness was a problem for me.
And for those of you who think that driving yourself can avoid motion sickness, I humbly beg differ! I make myself sick at least once a week. I got carsick just now driving home in rush hour traffic where I currently live. I guess I have some pretty serious problems with my equilibrium...
Thanks for all the replies! |
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Vanica
Joined: 31 Aug 2006
Posts: 368
Location: North Carolina
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| Posted: Tue Apr 17, 2012 1:25 am Post subject: |
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Maybe you have had an inner ear infection with resultant labyrinthitis. If so, taking anti-motion sickness medication delays recovery, which is very slow and may take years. Your damaged inner ear has to learn to compensate (or maybe it's the undamaged one). Good luck with it, anyhow!
I'd also like to find a walkable place. I guess Dubai central would fit, but I would hate to hear the discos all night long. |
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Turbster
Joined: 09 May 2009
Posts: 67
Location: UK
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| Posted: Tue Apr 17, 2012 2:59 am Post subject: |
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VS and Nolan are correct! Oman is a 'car kind of place', as much for the fact that you need a car to see and appreciate all that is Oman. You have this motion sickness issue, which may, in fact, prevent you taking employment in such a climate as that Oman offers. I don't know, I'm not medical!
What is certain though is that if you are coming to work in Oman, and do not get a car, in my opinion you are missing out on all of the good things that Oman has to offer. We've been here for a few years, and just last weekend found a new camping and fishing spot where the camping was clean, quiet, and safe, the hamour are plentiful, where the sand was clean and gold, the swimming and snorkeling was gorgeous, and the oysters on the rocks.......tasty as! Without our car, we would never find such places. |
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Nolan Chance
Joined: 13 Apr 2012
Posts: 45
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| Posted: Tue Apr 17, 2012 3:15 am Post subject: |
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| Sydney2002 wrote: |
| I recently had the pleasure of meeting an Indian couple ... And the wife seemed not at all bothered by the idea of walking around in Muscat. |
By and large ( with few exceptions) the only female walkers you find in Muscat - other than those taking exercise - are part time housemaids traveling to and from jobs. Harassment can be a serious problem, even for those who one might have thought had now gone beyond the male gaze. |
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Sleepwalker
Joined: 02 Feb 2007
Posts: 454
Location: Reading the screen
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| Posted: Tue Apr 17, 2012 6:48 pm Post subject: |
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| I have been around Oman for over six years (Salalah and Muscat) and I've never had a car. I use taxis and buses and have a contract with a taxi driver who covers taking me to and from work. I choose housing near the main roads and have had few problems. As for the students, I just say that I don't like driving and none have shown disrespect. Believe it or not, I know many single women who do not drive and get around with public transport - ignore the naysayers, it can be done. |
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