It was 09:44 AM on a wet Monday morning when a black-and-white motorbike pulled up in front of me. The driver stepped off, reached behind him, and handed me a helmet.
Believe it or not, this was an Uber ride. Not the usual silver Suzuki Dzire, but a motorbike. Uber, the San Francisco-based e-hailing giant, has introduced Uber Moto in Johannesburg—an option that promises affordability and efficiency in a city known for its congested roads.
I decided to give it a try, partly for the thrill but mostly for the price. A regular UberGO would have cost me at least R50 for my daily commute to university. The Moto option? Just R21.61.
As I stepped toward the bike, warning lights flashed in my mind. Two of my relatives had suffered fractured legs in separate motorbike accidents. Another cousin had been thrown off his bike after a dog charged at him.
“A coffin on two wheels,” they call it.
But my ride was already here, and I had to be in Room 115 of the Physics Building at the University of the Witwatersrand for a lecture at 10 AM. There was no turning back.
I fastened my helmet, gripped the grab rails behind me, and braced myself as the driver revved the engine. To steady my nerves, I shut my eyes.
About 500 meters down the road, we hit the first set of traffic lights. At that moment, my mind shifted from potholes and crashes to another Johannesburg reality — smash-and-grabs.
Except, in my case, there would be no need for a smash. A thief could simply grab my bag and disappear before I even realised what had happened.
I hadn’t thought this through.
To stay alert, I fixated my gaze on the back of the driver’s helmet. The reflection gave me a 180-degree view of my surroundings. I kept my bag zipped up and held it close to me, hoping no one would take an interest in my possessions before the robot turned green.
As we turned onto a narrow side street in Brixton, a massive crater loomed ahead. “This is where he loses control, and the ride ends,” I thought.
But the driver skillfully maneuvered around it. Then another pothole. And another. Each time, I prepared for the worst — each time, we made it through.
With my worst fears behind me, I finally focused on the comfort of the ride. Well, ‘comfort’ might be the wrong word. It was about as comfortable as sitting on a firm barstool while moving at 50 km/h. But for a cheap, short trip, it was tolerable.
I also noticed something I hadn’t before — just how many motorbikes were on the road. From inside a car, they seem rare, but from the vantage point of a bike, they were everywhere.
The rest of the trip proceeded smoothly and at 09:53 AM, I arrived at the university gates, just nine minutes after departure. I hopped off, handed back the helmet, and turned to face my next challenge: battling the turnstiles at Wits. But that’s a story for another time.
The cost savings were undeniable. My trip cost less than half the price of an UberGO. The time savings were decent, though not dramatic. The thrill factor? High. But would I do it again?
Maybe. If I can get past my fears.
Uber Moto has the potential to reshape Johannesburg’s transport landscape, especially if it expands further. It could ease congestion, provide an inexpensive alternative for commuters, and normalise two-wheeler transport in a city dominated by cars.
But for now, safety remains a concern. A hairnet, knee and arm guards, and perhaps even better crime-prevention strategies could make this service more appealing.
Until then, I’ll be weighing my options carefully before hopping on a motorbike again.
