Normally I like driving. The sense of power and control that I get when driving a car – a car kept in good repair especially – gives me a high. But to my dismay this liking is quickly disappearing. If it were put to vote amongst those who drive in this fair city, the Nays (to driving in most Indian metros) would have it with no challenge at all. Driving in Bangalore is no exception. When I leave the parking from my apartment complex, all I need to do is to drive 25 metres, whence begins an obstacle course fit to test the skills of the driver and the suspension and shock absorbers of the vehicle.
First the speed breakers! These humps come in a variety of shapes and sizes and a large number of them are not painted and are quite invisible. The transport department officials put the daily figure of vehicle registration between 600 and 700! With the road infrastructure hardly being able to keep pace with this kind of proliferation, it does not require the genius of any traffic expert to predict large daily doses of road congestion. The average speed in the city is around 12 to 15 Km per hour. Anyway the innumerable potholes and the heavy traffic congestion make the humps superfluous. But the powers that raise these humps cannot bear to see a long stretch of good road and will make sure your ride is bumpy with a series of these wretched humps. So if the potholes don’t get you, the humps will!
Then there are the black and yellow bumblebees and the recent addition of the green hornets. The Autorickshas ! The worthies who drive autorickshas have a thumb rule. If the gap in the traffic can accommodate the front wheel of the auto, the rest is an automatic fit! They whine and snarl through the traffic, unmindful of any traffic – jockeying for space competing irrespective of the size and speed of the other vehicles on the road. And like the indestructible cockroach, which has outlived the Jurassic giants, they will outlive Armageddon and will continue to harass the city’s traffic.
The city roads are getting better and most main roads have become dual carriageways. But do we deserve them? It’s a most common sight to see on coming traffic – from bicycles to heavy trucks and buses – on the wrong side of the dual carriage way. Obviously it is considered unnecessary to travel a few hundred metres in the upstream direction of your destination to make a U turn. It’s much easier to drive along the side of the road and make a dash across the road in the first break one finds on the road. Of course the unwary driver who is peacefully driving on the legitimate side of the road has to be alert all the time to these road demons. One-way streets and no entry signs fare no better and get the same treatment. Many Bangalore drivers show great attitude in getting ahead. Their enthusiasm is especially in evidence while halted at a traffic signal. Many show no respect for the colour red and just keep going with out a break. If you are a driver who is not colour blind and respect the red light and stop at a traffic signal, you are almost certain to hear impatient honking from behind, hassling you and urging you to get a move on.
It is not unusual to see a bovine placidly chewing on its hastily consumed meal while leisurely resting right in the middle of a busy road. The traffic swerves and swings around it and no one thinks of chasing the creature to the side of the road. No, it’s no pleasure driving in this city.
A word of appreciation is in order for the public transport motorbus drivers. I am sure driving is no pleasure for them either and driving up and down the same route multiple times day after day!We can certainly improve their lot by riding the bus, rather than taking out private cars and adding to the congestion on the roads. Riding the city bus will be easy on our nerves and easier for the driver of the bus too with lesser crowds on the roads.
The humps, especially the unpainted kinds, can themselves cause accidents to happen. But since I don't drive, I am happy with the freedom the pedestrians enjoy on Indian roads. Most of the vehicles drive at a snail's pace on busy roads, and as pedestrians, i simply cross the road and leave the drivers of vehicles to figure out how to avoid hitting me.
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