I received a suggestion about focusing my posts and I thought it was a good one, so here goes. It is the first of a variety of topics.
The auto rickshaw (or the auto) is a pillar in Indian transportation. The familiar yellow and black vehicle is a true hybrid. From the outside, it looks like a deformed Volkswagon Bug. If you look underneath, it is a three-wheeled motorized tricycle. Finally, with steering built like a scooter, auto drivers feel free to drive it like one. You can imagine the tight corners, near-hit encounters, and shameless acceleration. In India, autos made a show only in the last few decades. Until then, cycle rickshaws, or rickshaws pulled by a person pedaling a bike, or pulling on his own feet, were the norm for personal hired transport. Today, these autos can be found all over Southeast Asia for their practicality in obtaining transportation, and as promising business ventures for many families.
Don’t be led into thinking that these vehicles and their drivers are anything less than hardy. Yesterday, I accompanied a few friends to a nearby town to get groceries. As the norm, we hailed an auto. This auto was a special cargo auto, so it had room for two extra people in the truck of the vehicle. With those extra seats, the total legal number that could ride the auto, including the driver, is six. I thought I was living on the edge (I was actually the last person in the seat, and I could’ve reached out with my leg and touched the road) with eight people on the way there. How foolish I was to underestimate the preferred transport of millions in India! It is the comfort for the bus missers, the companion for scooter-less families, and the proven choice for groups anywhere up to ten people. Needless to say, on the way back from to the Ashram, we crammed seventeen people in there! I was honestly impressed with the vehicle, with the driver who didn’t even sit in front of the steering, and the passengers, who had only one foot and one hand in contact with the auto.
We can’t forget to mention the wonderful roads that these vehicles navigate. These state roads are often not built completely smooth to start with, and vehicles, carts, bicycles, trucks, and the monsoon all tirelessly wear away the road. Therefore, driving on these roads is a true obstacle course. Oncoming traffic is the least of your worries. Avoiding potholes, animals, sand, and other obstacles make for an interesting ride. These autos shake and shudder with each pothole and bump in the road. With no evidence of shock absorbers, the thing shakes like some crane picked it up and banged it on the road a couple times. Miraculously, due to the brilliance of Indian engineering, they somehow make it through. The wheels are specially built to withstand these conditions. These are small donuts harder than normal tires.
If anyone reading this has missed out on the joy of riding in the auto rickshaw, I highly recommend you do so. It is pure entertainment watching these vehicles navigate the roads of India.
The auto rickshaw (or the auto) is a pillar in Indian transportation. The familiar yellow and black vehicle is a true hybrid. From the outside, it looks like a deformed Volkswagon Bug. If you look underneath, it is a three-wheeled motorized tricycle. Finally, with steering built like a scooter, auto drivers feel free to drive it like one. You can imagine the tight corners, near-hit encounters, and shameless acceleration. In India, autos made a show only in the last few decades. Until then, cycle rickshaws, or rickshaws pulled by a person pedaling a bike, or pulling on his own feet, were the norm for personal hired transport. Today, these autos can be found all over Southeast Asia for their practicality in obtaining transportation, and as promising business ventures for many families.
Don’t be led into thinking that these vehicles and their drivers are anything less than hardy. Yesterday, I accompanied a few friends to a nearby town to get groceries. As the norm, we hailed an auto. This auto was a special cargo auto, so it had room for two extra people in the truck of the vehicle. With those extra seats, the total legal number that could ride the auto, including the driver, is six. I thought I was living on the edge (I was actually the last person in the seat, and I could’ve reached out with my leg and touched the road) with eight people on the way there. How foolish I was to underestimate the preferred transport of millions in India! It is the comfort for the bus missers, the companion for scooter-less families, and the proven choice for groups anywhere up to ten people. Needless to say, on the way back from to the Ashram, we crammed seventeen people in there! I was honestly impressed with the vehicle, with the driver who didn’t even sit in front of the steering, and the passengers, who had only one foot and one hand in contact with the auto.
We can’t forget to mention the wonderful roads that these vehicles navigate. These state roads are often not built completely smooth to start with, and vehicles, carts, bicycles, trucks, and the monsoon all tirelessly wear away the road. Therefore, driving on these roads is a true obstacle course. Oncoming traffic is the least of your worries. Avoiding potholes, animals, sand, and other obstacles make for an interesting ride. These autos shake and shudder with each pothole and bump in the road. With no evidence of shock absorbers, the thing shakes like some crane picked it up and banged it on the road a couple times. Miraculously, due to the brilliance of Indian engineering, they somehow make it through. The wheels are specially built to withstand these conditions. These are small donuts harder than normal tires.
If anyone reading this has missed out on the joy of riding in the auto rickshaw, I highly recommend you do so. It is pure entertainment watching these vehicles navigate the roads of India.
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