I quit it for sometime....
@arunima25 (93194)
Bangalore, India
March 18, 2019 12:32am CST
Well, I made up my mind on Saturday that I will quit it for sometime as it is stressing me out.
I am not an expert driver and an indolent one too. But I drive to survive as there are so many things that demand me to step out of the house..dropping my daughter to school and her Music class being the most regular ones.
Driving in India is crazy with all traffic. And on top of it the construction works add to your misery. So it is Metro construction keeping both sides of roads digged and eating away half of the road. But I still drove in that mess for last few months.
But on Saturday, they started with another project of laying down some water pipes and so eat away some more portion of the already so little road.
Now you need to have an acrobatic trapeze artist skill to balance your car between dug tunnels on your both sides and drive.
And trust me it took me 10 long minutes to cross some 100 metres balancing my car in between. I am not sure how many inches my tyre was away from falling down into the tunnel. It seemed like an adventurous ride and if I was on co driver seat I would have closed my eyes and said a prayer. My daughter on co driver seat did close her eyes and panicked. I being a driver could not do so.
Somehow I managed to come back home safely but phew!
I made up my mind that for coming few weeks till I get a little wider road to drive, I am not taking my car out. I can not avoid that stretch of construction to go anywhere.
And I am glad I took that decision. Today I found that the stretch has become even longer.
So for next few weeks, I am hiring Ola Auto to go out. Auto rickshaws are bit smaller and can be managed on such roads.
SO today was our first ride on Auto Rickshaw and we really enjoyed it.
For those of you who have no idea what an auto rickshaw in India looks like, I have added an image here.
How is day /night at your end?
9 people like this
11 responses
@amitkokiladitya (171988)
• Agra, India
18 Mar 19
I hate to drive as well. Actually I fell.so scared in traffic. I have completely given by driving now..for me also, ola is the best
3 people like this
@arunima25 (93194)
• Bangalore, India
18 Mar 19
I drove for last 15 years now and I drive an auto gear one. Now even I plan to give up. But hiring Ola every day is not economical.
3 people like this
@amitkokiladitya (171988)
• Agra, India
18 Mar 19
@arunima25 yes...that is the worst part of this.
2 people like this
@arunima25 (93194)
• Bangalore, India
18 Mar 19
@amitkokiladitya But good if you don't go multiple times out in day like me.
1 person likes this
@hereandthere (45628)
• Philippines
18 Mar 19
last year our street was dug up to lay down waterpipes. it was so dusty and noisy and muddy. they also put the big concrete pipes in front of the house.
your auto rickshaw would be slightly similar to our motorized tricycles. yes, they're good at navigating narrow spaces.
3 people like this
@hereandthere (45628)
• Philippines
18 Mar 19
@arunima25 yes, it's bumpy and noisy, but it's good for short distances, especially when you have packages, and also when it's raining and you forgot your umbrella and the street is slightly flooded.
2 people like this
@arunima25 (93194)
• Bangalore, India
18 Mar 19
Yes and they are easily available. So no issues and booking through Ola makes them coem to your doorstep and pick. I enjoyed the ride though it was a little bumpy and it was fun for my younger one.
I have never seen a motorized tricycle. But from name I can get a picture similar to our auto rickshaw.
2 people like this
However, I do understand the stress of driving through a congested road. The metro work was going on here for the last 4 years, even travelling in bus was not safe.@Sreekala (34312)
• India
18 Mar 19
@arunima25 It is good to be independent. I born and brought up in a village, so you can guess how my life was at that time especially being a girl. Now things are changed and most of the girls are using their own vehicle, at least a two wheeler.
1 person likes this
@arunima25 (93194)
• Bangalore, India
18 Mar 19
I learnt it during my college years only. You know how it is to grow up in defense background,,they teach you to be totally independent. I wish the public transport was little better. I would have never taken it out.
1 person likes this
@arunima25 (93194)
• Bangalore, India
18 Mar 19
@Sreekala I wish I knew to ride a two wheeler. It would have been so convenient with such roads. I can ride a cycle or take a small auto gear car.
1 person likes this
@anil02 (24688)
• India
18 Mar 19
What you right above, situation is some what alike in my city. Here sewerage and water supply pipe laying work is in progress for more than two years. We have also problem of narrow roads and dust. I am not driving car so I am not feeling any problem from it.
2 people like this
@anil02 (24688)
• India
19 Mar 19
@arunima25 Yes it better to avoid for some days.
1 person likes this
@arunima25 (93194)
• Bangalore, India
18 Mar 19
I think this is becoming a common problem for everyone everywhere. I am just scared to drive now. It is stressful.
2 people like this
@arunima25 (93194)
• Bangalore, India
19 Mar 19
@anil02 I am using auto for last two days and I am feeling less tired and less stressed.
@moirai (2948)
• Philippines
18 Mar 19
Oh my! One would expect, if there are ongoing roadworks like that, they should at least have a barrier to keep the passing vehicles at a safe distance from the dug areas.
But I suppose, from your description of how small the area left was, they might as well close the road if they eat up more of it for barriers. 
Anyway, I'm glad you made it through. I hope no one would get into an accident.
Anyway, I'm glad you made it through. I hope no one would get into an accident.2 people like this
@arunima25 (93194)
• Bangalore, India
18 Mar 19
Even I am very concerned about the safety. It is quite prone to accidents and especially very unsafe fo pedestrians.
1 person likes this
@arunima25 (93194)
• Bangalore, India
19 Mar 19
@Shavkat Very true!! You too have a great day. 
2 people like this
@cherigucchi (15934)
• Philippines
18 Mar 19
@arunima25 but the traffic is such a mess!!
1 person likes this
@arunima25 (93194)
• Bangalore, India
18 Mar 19
I think the public transport in your country is quite good and you do not need to.
1 person likes this
@arunima25 (93194)
• Bangalore, India
18 Mar 19
I can drive cycle or car. I wish I could drive a motorized two wheeler. That would have been so helpful to navigate in such roads.
1 person likes this
@DianneN (254926)
• United States
18 Mar 19
That little 3 wheeled auto rickshaw looks scary to me. My older son's inlaws were in India and said the traffic was horrific, so I don't blame you. Here, any dangerous areas are blocked off from traffic with cones or fences. No one wants a lawsuit.
1 person likes this
@arunima25 (93194)
• Bangalore, India
18 Mar 19
They are. I am always concerned about safety. 
1 person likes this
@Michellekidwell (29953)
• Sonora, California
18 Mar 19
Sounds daunting driving in that traffic
1 person likes this
