Autos the menace!!

It was just a slight drizzle when I decided to walk home from my work and mid way through it started raining cats and dogs. As ever it happens in Bangalore, flooding was instantaneous. Before long, I could see a stretch of road submerged foot deep in water. I didn’t want to do spider man stuff and end up in a hospital bed with a broken back. Neither did I want to get a free ride through the open manhole. So I waited on the tiny footpath left after all the encroachments hoping to see a rickshaw coming to rescue me. Rain water was still making it through my umbrella which the manufacturers promise to be made of XYZ technology and seeing my situation GOD did sent me a rickshaw. Its hardly 700 meters to be home and being curious or say being over cautious I asked the driver how much would it cost me to get a ride till home. Rupees 25 sir… ! That the same amount with which on a sunny day you can travel 2 miles! I paused for a moment and asked him again to see if rain has made me mad that I hear wrong things. But he repeated the same thing and with disbelief I nodded my head to express my disagreement and the next thing I saw was the rickshaw disappearing in the distance. I stood their for some more time to see what else could’ve made this day worse and finally decided to wade through the water. Whats life without risk anyway J

When my wife’s cousins expressed their interest to come to Bangalore for a short visit I told them where to get down and how to bargain with the auto fellows and get a good deal to get home. When I heard the sound of calling bell next day morning 7:30, I opened the door to see one of my cousins at the door and the other one paying the rickshaw driver with a face which was as pale as a white Lilly. I could sense something wrong and just peeped on to the meter. It was the turn of my face to loose all its blood this time. It showed Rs 75. This was when they had to travel just 3 km to reach my house from where they got down from the bus. I tried arguing but let me admit he was far more intimidating and was well trained on counter attack. After paying the amount my cousins told me the entire episode. As per my suggestion they started bargaining with the drivers on the fare as they always quote double or at time triple from the people coming from long distances. After a long bargain they found some one who promised to take them home for the “meter charge”. Their happiness was short lived when they saw the meter reading going faster than the rpm of the engine. From then on, I always tell people to “take an auto and come home” thats it.

It was getting late on a Friday evening and I tried reaching 60 on my speedometer and when I was just about to reach that mark I saw one black metal piece with a yellow top just at the middle of the road. Damn… this was the same auto which just over took me from left… before I could solve the mystery I had to save my head for the same. I applied what ever left over break I had on my state of the art Victor bike and after lots of wobble and nearly falling down as I could see in a bollywood movie sequence, I successfully avoided hitting the rickshaw, but couldn’t prevent it from hitting the footpath rails. I tried assessing the situation and from the people standing at the footpath I could make out their disbelief and disappointment of missing a spectacular crash. This was just one of many of the instances where the auto drivers take a U turn with absolutely no signal. I would rather follow a BTS bus than an auto. You can never predict which way an auto or mad dog go!

All these experiences are not remote incidents and I am pretty sure who ever is reading this might have gone through atleast one of the above. I often get pissed off when an auto driver stops by you and when you tell your destination they just nod their head pitifully and move on. I would suggest they rather put a board on the front as to which all places they are going (like private buses). And I often wonder if emission tests were ever meant for auto rickshaws.

So what can we do about this?

There seems to be some numbers to which you can call in and let the authorities know your grievance

• 22253500
• 22260554
• 22207750

The mail ID of the traffic police is dcptrafficeast@hotmail.com or dcptrafficeast@gmail.com. The Auto Rickshaw Drivers’ Union may be reached at 23421291.