Getting Around Town

Do you remember the end scene of the first Back to the Future movie? Marty asks about how they're going to get the DeLorean to 88mph on a residential street and Doc retorts: "Roads? Where we're going, we don't need roads." 

Well, in India, the drivers be like: "Rules? Where we're going, we don't need rules." Needless to say, I will never drive in India, and if I did, I would probably be the cause of an accident because I did something stupid, like stop at a red light or used a turn signal.

So, how do you get around if you're car-less? If you're in one of the larger cities like Delhi, you can catch public transportation, with modern and efficient Metro stations. Where I am is a smaller city that does have public buses, but I can't even tell what the bus route numbers are, let alone a bus stop. Maybe I'll take catch one someday, but not anytime soon.

One option is an auto rickshaw, or auto, for short. You can catch a sharing auto, which basically has a set route along a main road or to a specific destination. You and other passengers can hop on or off along that route. Because it's shared, the cost is less than riding by yourself. Don't ask me how much, because it can vary and I've only been on two or three rides. Drivers set the price, so ask a local how much it should be. Be prepared to pay the 'tourist tax'.

If sharing an auto isn't your thing, another option is to take a private one. You can hail them like a cab, or, because you're not from 'round these here parts, the drivers will spot you from a distance and encircle you like sharks that get a whiff of blood to see if you need a ride. Of course, they'll give the fairest price (for them) to take you where you want to go. Be prepared to negotiate, and try not to look desperate (that's a story for another time).

To avoid the hassle of haggling, you can book an auto, car, or even a motorcycle through ride sharing apps. Uber is available in India, which is great because it takes credit cards, though you have the option of paying cash. Another popular rideshare app is Ola Cabs, made right here in India. Unfortunately, they don't take foreign cards so be prepared to have cash in small bills handy.  Both apps have OTPs (one-time passcodes) that verify the rides, and you can share your location with a friend if you want to feel more comfortable. (If you want to go to Goa, I've heard that there are no ridesharing vehicles there).

Knowing the Ola and Uber prices can help you when negotiating so you know what the costs should be if you decide to catch an auto without the app.  There are times when you do need to catch an auto outside of an app because sometimes the driver, who assured you multiple times over multiple phone calls that he was indeed coming, cancels on you. Or the state government shuts the internet down for all mobile phones to quell civil unrest or prevent students from cheating during state-wide testing. Shutting down the internet is a completely foreign concept to me, but this has happened when I was in Nigeria, both times when I was in India before, and I'm sure it will happen again.  

If you're a good haggler and love to bargain, I'm sure you'll enjoy yourself. You may even hail an auto on the street just for the thrill of it. I'm not there yet, but maybe by the end of my time here I will be.

Photo by Alexis rodriguez on Unsplash