I got into the ride and immediately noticed a large sign explaining that the driver is hearing impaired and that passengers should communicate using hand gestures. It was asking riders to follow a basic system of signals for things like adjusting the air conditioning.
I sat there for a moment taking it in, since it was a different experience than usual. I tried speaking a few times out of habit, but of course the driver couldn’t hear me.
I then tried to get their attention by tapping and gesturing, and the driver pulled over to make sure everything was okay and reminded me to use the signals listed on the sign. It led to a bit of a misunderstanding, and the ride ended earlier than expected.
It wasn’t the smoothest trip, but it was definitely an experience that required a different way of communicating than I’m used to.
