Central Western Daily journalist Nicole Kuter continues her report from Saturday night at The Occidental Hotel.
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In part three of the series she writes about life as the licensee of a late night trading venue and why women walk home at 3am.
ORANGE women would rather walk home at 3am after a night out than line up for a taxi, according to patrons at the Occidental Hotel on Saturday night.
The Central Western Daily spoke to 10 women of varying ages at the pub and the consensus was they would prefer to walk than wait in line for a cab.
Leesa Gallagher and Teresa Brakenridge said when there was a big event on in the area like horse races it could take up to an hour to get a taxi home.
“I walk home, absolutely it’s dangerous but what choice do you have?” Ms Brakenridge said.
Charissa Carr, 24, said she did not feel safe waiting in line for a taxi.
She said it was safer to walk home with friends.
“I’ll just walk home, if I get worried I’ll walk with friends,” she said.
Summer Hayes said she often chose to walk home because the line at the cab rank was too long and she did not feel safe.
She said when there was 300 people lined up in the same place,anything could happen.
“My mum doesn’t like it but there are too many creepy guys at the cab rank,” she said.
Orange Taxis chairman Darryl Curran said the line at the Lords Place rank was never up to an hour.
The rank is staffed by security employed by Roads and Maritime Services. There are often three security guards on duty, more than the majority of ranks in NSW, Mr Curran said.
“People are mad to walk home,” he said.
At 3am in the morning the cab rank is the safest place to be in Orange.”
Mr Curran said every time a door of the cab opened, cameras inside the vehicle took photos. Up to 10 photos are taken and Orange Taxis staff are able to monitor the situation at the rank.
“People walking home are putting their own safety at risk,” he said.