Commuters take to social networking sites, vent anger

Even as HT’s Facebook campaign — Meter Down: Stand up against errant auto drivers — attracts an increasing number of responses from harried commuters, Mumbaiites have taken to launching their own pages on social networking sites, to vent their anger against rickshaw drivers who have held the city to ransom.

Even as HT’s Facebook campaign — Meter Down: Stand up against errant auto drivers — attracts an increasing number of responses from harried commuters, Mumbaiites have taken to launching their own pages on social networking sites, to vent their anger against rickshaw drivers who have held the city to ransom.



Around 10 such pages have come up on social networking site Facebook, serving as a platform for commuters to expressing their annoyance and anger against rickshaw drivers who refuse to ply, or overcharge passengers.

With names that reflect the frustration of commuters, pages like ‘Stand up against Mumbai auto rickshaw drivers,’ and ‘Protest against Mumbai’s auto and taxiwalas,’ are seeing active participation by Facebook
members.

HT Image

“If you hate the reckless rickshaw drivers on the roads of Mumbai, like this page and spread the hate!” reads the description of a page called ‘I hate autorickshaws in Mumbai,’

An example of the online movement gradually gathering steam is the Mumbai Autorickshaw Commuters Assiociation, which is gathering support for their boycott of auto rickshaws on October 30.

This association is using the email address saynotoautos@gmail.com to spread the word and has planned their first meeting with 300 auto drivers in Vikhroli on October 29.