Surviving Rickshaw

So, I've mentioned the traffic in Pune. This was probably close to the biggest shock for us Westerners coming to India for the first time. So, we were warned never to drive ourselves in Pune. OK, we got that. After seeing the traffic situation, we deduced that for maximum safety it is best to travel in a solid 4-wheeler vehicle (as opposed to the "2-wheeler" motorbikes and biclclyes as they are comonly known). So if at all possible, it is best to stay away from the 3-wheeled rickshaw taxis, which appear to be tricycles with a motor and are the only taxis available in Pune.

On Saturday, Gulshan's family kindly offered to show us around some shopping areas in Pune where we could pick up some gifties. However, most reasonable people in Pune that drive a car, drive a very small car. Such was the case with Gulshan's sister's car. There was no way the 4 of us plus the rest of Gulshan's family guiding us around Pune could fit in the car. So, it was inevitable; we were going to have to brave riding the rickshaw.

So, we decided it would be an adventure; as if riding around Pune in a car wasn't exciting enough. John and I were the men of the group so we were the rickshaw guinea pigs. To makwe this more exciting, the rickshaw drivers do not speak too much English. So, Gulshan's sister would have tell the driver where we were going, negotiate a price for the rickshaw (normally they used a meter in the rickshaw), and explain to us where we would meet once the rickshaw driver dropped us off. So, we would get on the rickshaw, not exactly confident that the rickshaw driver would take us to the same place where the rest of our party planned to meet us. In any case, it was certainly bound to be an experience unlike any we had encountered previously.

Here are some pictures from our first rides on a rickshaw.


View from our first moments in a rickshaw


This is what the camera sees if you hold outsdie of the rickshaw; no I did not stick my head out.


Pointing the camera behind the rickshaw


A Pune bus


Up close and personal; this segment of our ride was much more intense than it appears here.


Enjoying the rickshaw ride