Still, hazy, dark nights, sounds of rustling autumn leaves falling from the trees, the thick, swishing wind that carries with it the sharp scent of dirt and memories of the long day—you stand alone, waiting for some vehicle to pass by, probably hoping for a lift.

The dreary night leaves you stranded at some place where you had to attend a conference or meet up with your friends.

Lost in sweet talks and having lost track of time, you sprint rapidly as soon as you check your phone for the time, coyly, not letting your friends suspect that you are not having fun and want to leave.

Hundreds of missed calls from home make you realize it’s already too late for all the buses. Their lights fade into the distance, probably having returned to their rest spots for the day.

No other options remain for you to reach home. Your eyes tear up, and your fingers, shaking, move toward the contacts app in search of that one voice of solace and safety.

You fear calling anyone but call your mom anyway, with a shaky voice, almost letting yourself wail in the middle of the road.

Flashback to before 2018/19 (AD), when most of us were probably in a similar situation. The thought of traveling during the night was ghastly if you didn’t have a vehicle of your own.

A man can be evil, and the night may cloud his intentions, some more than others. With the increasing violence in Nepal and complaints resurfacing one after the other, riding alone at night can be frightening for many.

The local buses, packed as if stuffing a burrito or keema inside a momo, almost squeezing your guts out with people pressing against your body, cursing the driver for making countless stops when the bus was on the verge of bursting with passengers.

This scenario plays in your head continuously as you stare at yet another text from your friend: ‘Let’s meet up Friday night, it’s going to be fun!’ FOMO won’t let you miss the event, while the returning journey makes you want to almost throw up. You’re stuck in a bind.

2019 was a blessing to all those confused minds and delayed replies, with the rise of e-hailing applications.

The people of Nepal let out an audible sigh of relief. It was the end of the dreadful local bus rides at night, the end of waiting hours for cabs standing on dusty roads ruining your skincare routine, the end of the ravenous eyes of the cab drivers, taking advantage of desperate passengers who, as they had seen, had been waiting for hours.

They stood by, ready to swoop in on their next prey, inflating the fares. It was the end of an era—quite a dreadful one, some may say.

E-hailing is a service provided to book public transport via electronic applications.

This service has been a lifesaver during desperate times, as through the service, passengers do not need to go through trifling hassles when they are in a time crunch, have an urgent matter, or need a quick ride to the hospital because they broke their foot falling from the stairs. It’s all so easy now.

With the high demand for better transportation options, these apps have been a boon for those suffering from overcrowded bus nightmares.

InDrive, Pathao, Tootle, Sajilo, Taximandu, and JumJum are some of the notable e-hailing apps in Nepal.

These apps are digitally inclusive, meaning people of any age group would not have a hard time using them—from you, the young readers, to your parents, and even now the elderly. We can see these apps installed on every Apple and Android device in sight.

With the fortunate launch of these applications, students have been making the most of their services. Whether it’s early school mornings or late-night party returns, these apps have consistently been there to meet their needs.

With just a few taps on your phone, a personal rider arrives to take you directly to your destination at a fair price, eliminating the hassle of walking or rushing when you’re running late.

These services have become more than just a means of transportation; they are a lifeline, fueling Nepal’s economy and supporting countless families.

As the demand for rides grows, more individuals step in, turning their time and effort into a steady source of income.

With each journey, they earn not just fares but the means to support their education, pay for daily necessities, and provide for their families. Whether as a part-time gig or a full-time hustle, these riders steer through the city’s roads, carrying with them the weight of dreams, responsibilities, and the pursuit of a better tomorrow.

An elderly man, a father to some, a grandfather to others, peeks into his mobile, its brightness at full and sound turned all the way up, searching for a passenger.

He might have been familiar with a mobile phone just a few years ago, yet now works as a rider for one of these apps—whether to buy his granddaughter the toy she had her eyes on during their stroll earlier that week, or to feed his family a nice warm dinner. He rides on, carrying the weight of his loved ones’ happiness with every trip.

The larger the field, the bigger the challenges that come with it. With the poor conditions of the road and heavy, unsafe traffic, rides can sometimes be impossible.

With the right policy reforms, updated transportation laws, and infrastructure improvements, the e-hailing industry could be a powerful catalyst for growth in the coming years.

The constant jolts and bumps toss you back and forth in your seat, making you feel like you might fall from the vehicle itself.

Not everything comes without its challenges; every convenience has its own set of risks.

A man can be evil, and the night may cloud his intentions, some more than others. With the increasing violence in Nepal and complaints resurfacing one after the other, riding alone at night can be frightening for many.

Youngsters, often disregarding the dangers and their parents’ concerns, find themselves falling into unsafe situations.

The tendency of some riders to avoid main highways, choosing instead quieter, more eerie inner-city roads to dodge traffic, makes you somewhat restless, particularly when you’re not familiar with the route.

With no control over the vehicle, you’re unsure where the rider might take you.

As a student myself, choosing to e-hail over the hectic public transportation rides, my phone won’t stop ringing until I reach home, especially when I’m running a little later than usual.

With news of young students getting taken away during such situations being passed on daily, and given the intentions of some people these days, the concern of a parent is deemed reasonable.

While the convenience of these services is irrefutable, the risks they present are undeniably higher.

Every comfort comes with its own risk, and it is our calling to work to reduce them so that no one must endure a life of trauma simply for hailing a ride online.

Using GPS trackers, maintaining prior contact with someone trustworthy before getting on the ride, checking the maps if you’re unsure of the route, and keeping your contacts app open at all times would make you feel much safer during the ride.

Challenges notwithstanding, these apps have the potential to be an economic game-changer for Nepal. In addition to the creation of thousands of jobs, this service has revolutionized transportation in Nepal.

With the right policy reforms, updated transportation laws, and infrastructure improvements, the e-hailing industry could be a powerful catalyst for growth in the coming years.

However, as we embrace this progress, we must also recognize the need to safeguard the well-being of those who rely on these services.

The question remains: how can we strike the perfect balance between progress and protection in this evolving terrain?

(Writer is a Bachelor’s in Economics student at Kathmandu University School of Arts.)