 While there is obviously a risk of crime in getting into a stranger's car in any city, using gypsy-cabs in Moscow is seen as relatively safe, though the British Embassy in the city officially discourages the practice.In contrast to taxicabs, pre-booked private-hire vehicles are readily available in Moscow on a conventional commercial basis.Traditional cabs in the Western sense are becoming more and more common, but remain very expensive in comparison to the gypsy cabs.