Glad you are Safe Bailouts, Trap Cars & Safety Tips on Rua Augusta (SP)
[QUOTE=Wavarry;3086389]I've had a weird trip this go around.
One other crazy thing occurred on my second casarao trip, I was taking an uber back home at 2 am. I was staying in paulista so not very far and I had a driver mid trip try aggressively demand I give him 100 usd. I tried to pretend I didn't understand him most of the trip until he got more aggressive, I literally hopped out of the car, stood behind two police that were posted on the street till he drove off. Then proceeded to jog the remaining 3/4 of a mile to my hotel at 2 am. So now that's a worry every time I get into a late night uber here.[/QUOTE]Bailouts, Trap Cars & Safety Tips on Rua Augusta (SP).
First off, glad you made it out safe! Not all the sharks are inside the clubs or behind the bar at Gauguin (which, by the way, literally has an actual shark tank behind the bar).
My thoughts on navigating So Paulo & Rio nightlife.
1. Report That Uber Driver Immediately.
Definitely report the driver to Uber Brasil. They actually take safety violations very seriously.
2. Rua Augusta Late Night (2 AM 5 AM).
It's unfortunate, but the stretch of Rua Augusta between 2 AM and 5 AM is an entirely different beast. The freaks really do come out at night. I've posted about having a Casaro garota doing a bailout oN Rua Augusta.
3. Dealing with the Polcia Militar.
Hate to say it, but the Polcia Militar in Brazil are known for knocking heads first and asking, "Oh, you're the victim?" later. Kkk. That said, the tourist-area PMs around Copacabana and Rua Augusta are pretty accustomed to gringos getting into strange late-night situations. Copa area PM always seems to have lots of road checkpoints in and out of Copa, Botafogo, areas. Checking for moleques from nearby favelas.
4. You Were 100% Right to Bail.
(My "Trap Car" Experience).
You did the right thing jumping out. Years ago before Uber went international. A stripclub doorman flagged down a cab for me late at night with one of those fake "Kojak" removable taxi lights on the roof.
I got in, and immediately things went sideways:
* he drove right past the nextbstrip club where I was heading.
* I looked around and realized the car had no interior door handles and no window cranks it was a literal trap car.
* he kept driving toward one of the worst parts of town, then slowed down to let his buddy hop into the back seat.
Fuvk the moment he slowed down, I hit him in the side of the head with a Tae Kwon Do kick from the back, kicked the door wide open directly into his buddy's stomach, and bailed into the street.
I had to sprint a mile and a half through a heavy favela zone to get back to safety. I was determined that if anyone or mofo car approached me on that jog, it was not going to end well for them, zero chances taken that night.
My uber and cab rule for Transport Now.
Ever since that night, I follow a strict protocol:
* Uber first There is at least a baseline level of driver vetting. Plus audio and video recording. Other rideshare apps in Brazil don't vet drivers nearly as well, leading to far more security issues.
* Garota Approved: The working girls at Scandallo, Casaro, and Gauguin almost exclusively use Uber for their own safety over the cheaper local apps. I ask them which they use and which they avoid. Sorry dudes I prefer opinion of garotas than this forum about using local shit.
* The Door Check: I will never step inside a car without automatically checking that the interior door handles work and that I have a clear escape route.
* Recordings On: I keep safety features and audio / video recording enabled for every single trip.
Stay safe out there, keep your head on a swivel, and trust your gut the second a situation feels off. "Not a sermon just a thought" kkk
Always verify the license plate on an Uber before getting in
[QUOTE=AxelHeyst;3086569]That sounds crazy all right. My girls all take Uber Black and nothing else. I originally thought it was because I was paying, but lately I been thinking that they know what they are doing. On 2 occasions I have changed plans while in an Uber. The driver was fine with it, but I got a message from Uber central asking if everything was alright. SP is safe until it isn't. Make sure you are entering an Uber, the Uber you scheduled, and not a fake one especially late at night in a dicey neighborhood.[/QUOTE]Brazil's cars have tags on the front. On Uber they always show the license number as well as the make / model of the car. Don't get in any car unless everything matches. I learned that in Belém.