Evan – My friend and I went bar hopping in downtown Denver. We made it to the light rail station but got off to use the restroom — and the stop we got off at is the last one going toward our hotel, six miles west. We’re in an obscure location near a bunch of parking lots, and we called several cabs, but none have showed up and it’s been an hour. My friend’s iPhone just died, and mine has half its battery life left. Help! How do we get back to our hotel?

 
Do you know where you are? Do you need a compass?

What if a few blocks away, there are several cabbies standing outside their cabs looking for you?

Just kidding, you’re stranded in a big city, and it sounds like you’re in an industrial district. I advise against attempting to hitchhike.

Half of a phone battery is a good amount of phone battery to have after an evening out. Do you or your friend know anyone in the Denver area? If you do, they may be able to help, or at least tell you where the heck you are.

Try calling a couple more cabs from other cab companies (the other guys have lost your business). Before you do, walk to the nearest intersection. Give them a ring a few more times with the most exact location you can muster.

No luck? You’re hoofing it, hopefully not too far.

Let’s go back to the light rail station, even if no more trains are running. There’s probably an emergency call box you can use. Hopefully, whoever picks up will have knowledge of the easiest way to summon a cab or other possible transportation.

The right solution could leave you walking a considerable distance to a more civilized part of town. If you have to do that, make sure you know what direction you are moving at all times. And watch each other’s back.

ealinko@mavs.coloradomesa.edu