Sometimes you hear a story that just makes you want to cry.

A woman who lives not far from us has a hard life. She’s in her 30s, single, childless, and with severe health problems (physical and emotional) that prevent her from holding down a job. She lives on her welfare benefits.

She’s nervous, and although she hasn’t got much money, she calls taxis to get around — always from the Ramot Alon taxi company. The drivers got to know her over time, and decided together to give her a flat-rate price of 15 NIS anywhere in the city (typical in-city fares range from 15-40 NIS).

Last month, this woman went to get a haircut. As she left, she asked the receptionist to call her a cab. The woman responded, “Why order a cab and pay the extra fee, just catch one outside?” She did, and ended up unawares in an unregistered (=illegal) taxi. When she arrived and opened her purse to pay, the driver snatched the purse, pushed her out the door, and took off. She started screaming; a Ramot Alon cab was passing by, heard her, went after the first cab, caught him, and called the police.

The Ramot Alon drivers decided to give this woman free transportation for two months… The whole entire company. Each and every one of them. It’s what “little” they can do for her.

If you’ve think that Israeli taxi drivers are looking to rip you off… just think again.

Written on my Blackberry from the back seat of a Ramot Alon taxi.