Rickshaws, Trains and Automobiles - and motorcycles

The main mode of transportation for those without vehicles (like us) is automatic rickshaws.  They are similar to a three wheeled passenger golf cart.  There is a training school for the drivers and they are suppose to be licensed.  Most of the rickshaws are yellow and green or yellow and black.  If you see one that is other than those colors, it is probably a private rickshaw. 

The process for hailing a rickshaw is fascinating, in itself.  I am going to proceed as though I were with Lacey and give you an idea of engaging a rickshaw and riding in one.

Lacey stands on the edge of the street and when she sees an empty rickshaw coming steps forward a bit, raises a hand and says, "Auto".  If the driver is available he pulls over.  She steps up and says the location that she would like to go "Mantre Mall?  You know?".  He might squint, or say, "Ya, ya" and point to the back seat, or shake his head and drive off.  If he indicates that he would be willing, then the negotiations begin.  Usually he will say, "100 rupees" and she will say, "No, meter only", he will argue and she will respond.  He will drive away or she will walk away if they can't come to a fair price.  Finally one will come along that agrees to the terms she is determined to get.  Conversation in the rickshaw will be about directions then.  He clarifies where she wants to go and she will say, "You know?  It's ok, I know".  As we are going through the crazy traffic, he is waiting for directions.  "Stret (straight)" or "Okey, turn left" and when we arrive, "Stop, stop".  If we are lucky he has done as he agreed and we owe what the meter reads.   We exit quickly and take care of our business only to do this once again when we are ready to return home.

The foreigners who live there develop what I call "Indian English".  It is quite intriguing to hear them speak it.  The Indians who speak English have a distinct accent which they have learned and passed on.  Chase could speak "Indian English" very well, and I think actually enjoyed it.  To speak it, you hit some consonants very hard, soften hard vowels, and leave out unimportant words.  You say, "Okey" and "Ya, ya" or "Yes, yes" a lot.  If you can add in the Indian head bobble, it is even that much more fun.  All of the rickshaw drivers speak "Indian English" or barely English!

Some of the rickshaws are very nice and some are what I call janky.  The traffic is horrific and you need to be sure and keep all of your limbs safely inside of the vehicle.  The left side is the traditional side on which you drive, however, really if you can overtake the vehicle in front of you, the whole road is open to you.  It is not unusual to be meeting oncoming traffic on their side of the road and barely make it back in as you are passing.  I still don't understand why we didn't see more accidents.  The rickshaw drivers nose in between cars, buses and motorcycles with no hesitation and only inches to spare.  It is scary but also in a weird way, exciting.

 
Rickshaw travel is safe and efficient for the most part.  Once in a great while you get in one that the driver really doesn't know where he is going, or the rickshaw breaks down (the driver gets out and proceeds to work on it), or it is night and you realize your rickshaw had absolutely no lights, or your driver takes you on a side excursion because he had an errand to run...the thing is, if you choose, you can just get out and wait for another one to come along (because one always does!)

We also took taxis some.  They cost more and have to be called and waited upon.  It is a nicer ride, but much less convenient.  Air conditioning is available in taxis and it is nice to not have to breath all of the fumes and dust when you ride in one.  There are no seat belts or seat belt laws.  You just hang on and hope!

We did see a couple of accidents, but defensive driving is important there.  As we passed a little fender bender, I learned about how things work in India.  A girl driving a car was being pursued by a rickshaw driver and she was being surrounded by rickshaws.  She had a terrified look on her face.  The rickshaw had somehow had the headlight smashed out in a collision with her.  She just kept driving.  Our rickshaw driver joined the gang.  Lacey scolded him with , "No, no!  This is not your business.  Go...GO!"  He did as she asked but the girl was already being stopped by the others around her.  Chase told me how their traffic accident practices go.  There are policemen, but many of them can be bribed.  Most people take care of the details themselves.  The driver who believes it is the other person's fault sets a price for repair of his vehicle.  If the other person does not have the amount on him, the offended driver can punch him in the face.  YIKES!  No wonder the girl was terrified!

There are many motorcycles and scooters on the road.  It is not unusual to see whole families riding on them.  The women often ride "side-saddle" behind the men and I honestly don't know how they stay on!!
Motorcycles are a great way to get around fast.  They just make their own lane and move in and out and in between cars and buses.  There is a lot of honking that goes on all the time from all vehicles.

The buses are so scary.  They move at fast speeds not really being cautious about other vehicles.  Why would they - they are the biggest vehicles on the road!  We heard that they are allowed one pedestrian death per year without repercussion.  They are usually overcrowded and old looking. 

Bangalore has a new mass transit system.  It is in the early stages and runs only one direction and back.  As time goes by and more tracks are built, I wonder how it will change the face of the rickshaw business.  Ajay loved to ride it.  Chase would take him on a ride and in that they had to take a rickshaw to the station, those outings were by far his favorite.

Ajay's very favorite ride - Daddy's shoulders



Riding the rails - with Mason Wadley and Kristen Vaughan!  I KNOW - crazy!!







While riding through traffic, white people get a lot of attention - especially white people with blond haired blue-eyed little boys or a baby.  Everyone stares.  People sitting on motorcycles will pull out their phone and take pictures. Sometimes the rickshaw drivers talk to the child, take pictures of him, and even record his voice. 

 
                     In this picture you can see Ajay's face in the rickshaw driver's outside mirror!!  Haha - why?

One thing is for sure...I know one little boy who thinks rickshaws are amazing!  Who knows, maybe he will even drive one someday!