With few exceptions, when strolling down the sidewalks of Beirut, one would typically encounter more parked cars than fellow strollers. Whether this is due to the desirability of moving around in air conditioning to cope with the heat of the summer or just an attachment to rolling in style, most Beirutis prefer their cars as a primary means of transportation — from the large intimidating tank-like Land Rover LRX to the smaller, sensible Kia Picanto that can fit into the most impossibly tight parking spots. This heavy culture of cars — globally a symbol of status and coming of age — suggests that public transportation, taxi or chauffeur services are not as quintessential a way of getting around in Beirut as, for instance, the yellow taxicab is in New York. But in an apparent move to defy these odds, two taxi booking applications are launching in Beirut this summer: San Francisco
