Roads .....

I just got my bike transported to Bangalore. After three months of driving sedans in the US of A, life is back to plain harsh reality – driving in Bangalore. I haven’t had the privilege of driving a lot on these roads but after having had the opportunity to be an observer, I have some observations/pointers for the people who would like to venture on to these one-of-the kind roads:

1.So, do we drive to the left of the road in Bangalore? Yes we do, most of the times, that is. We start on the left of the road, and when we do not have any space left we move to right side of the road. This is a continuous process and it proceeds by moving to the next available empty space. Very much like draughts or chess, just that this requires much more dexterity, skill and foresight on our part.

2.We find lanes claustrophobic. I mean, how can a self-respecting driver stay in one lane all the time? We value our freedom of more than 50 years and extend the same to our roads. We like to switch lanes and demonstrate our skills on the bike. But then if this gives off the impression that we are all glamour and no responsibility, it is wrong. We never do wheelies on the main roads.

3.Unlike some countries, where honking may be considered offensive, we rise above such frivolous interpersonal issues. We honk for the sheer joy of it. We honk when we are making a turn, we honk when we see someone ahead of us, we honk when we see someone overtaking us. We even honk in a traffic jam. We Bangloreans are a spiritual lot and we believe in miracles. We believe that honking can miraculously clear the traffic in front of us. Though this has never ever happened, we still don’t give up. We are a persisting and a persevering lot, you know.

4.The roads in Bangalore do not have shoulders – more like boulders? Yes. Unlike some countries’ roads which have a lane which is not used by the general public, we don’t have such a system. We are strong adherers of that famous law by that good natured chap, Parkinson and we make sure that the traffic expands to fill the available space, even time at times.

5.Given our strong Indian roots, we have a strong sense of equality. This extends to our roads too. Everyone on the road is an equal, be it the Rs 12 K moped-wala or the guy who owns the Rs. 65 L Mercedes S class. Both take the same time to get to a place from a certain other place. We are all equal here in Bangalore. The Bangalore traffic is such a strict proponent of this philosophy that it would not allow even an ambulance with a critical patient inside to go through it. We Bangloreans however are not totally devoid of human sensibility. The ambulance blare sometimes is a pain.

All said and done, driving here is fun, uninhibited and full of frolic. Throw in the added excitement of having to deal with the excellent traffic constabulary here, (which by the way speaks only language – Kannada and mysteriously translates a fine Rs.100 to Rs.200 when spoken to in Hindi), and you have nothing short of a James Bond thriller - without his ladies of course. Roads in Bangalore as they say are like James Bond - licensed to kill.