Transportation is very important in Ulaanbaatar because most of the shops and restaurants are concentrated in the downtown area. Additionally, the winters are very cold and it is difficult to walk for long distance because there is only one main road running through the city. The traffic is very bad and it may take up to an hour to go a few miles. But once you leave Ulaanbaatar, there are suddenly no more cars! There is just a long, empty road and grass on both sides.
People take unofficial taxis by standing on the side of the road with their hand out. Within a few minutes, a car will pull over and the driver will offer to take you to your destination. People also take buses, which constantly run across the city and it only costs about two cents per ride. In addition, there are buses daily that travel to other provinces in Mongolia. People who live in those provinces often travel locally by horse, camel, and motorcycle.
At first, I felt strange taking the unofficial taxis because I was taught not to take rides from strangers. But, I learned eventually that it is normal here. When I take the bus, it is very crowded. The bus driver does not stop anyone from getting on.
