Meanwhile .. no-country-for-cyclists

[Zam_Olyas]

http://www.openthemagazine.com/article/nation/no-country-for-cyclists

 

[StyrbjornSterki]

India has what could be the most dangerous roads in the world. In a typical year, motor accident deaths there average 14-15 per hour, well in excess of 100,00 deaths each year. It peaked at one death every 3.5 minutes in 2011. I have spent quite some time there and wouldn't dream of driving myself, not on a bet, because I can't make any sense of the chaos on the roads.

People driving the wrong way ...on a dual carriage way ...in the fast lane. Overtaking on the wrong side, on a mountainous curve, in the rain, at night, in a motor coach, with just one headlight.

Motor vehicles (including farm tractors), ox and camel-drawn carts, herds of goats, all sharing the same roads, both day and night. Yet somehow they cope ...to an extent. All in a day's work for an Indian driver.

The only part I've figured out is you must sound the horn continually when the engine is in operation.

If you think I'm exaggerating, just watch this.

Just as amazing, with such a high death rate, only 18 people out of every 1000 own a motor car. Ownership in the UK is 29x that high. Then again, maybe the high death rate is why only 18/1000 own a car.

The elements that make it so dangerous for automobile drivers must make it sheer suicide for bicyclists. If I lived there, I should think I would concentrate on the MTBing...


...but then there's the tigers ....

 

[RidingSeed]

All the facts in a single post! Totally agree. Indians have a unique way of doing things. Even train traveling is... well

-no racism intended, lol-

 

[Zam_Olyas]

India has what could be the most dangerous roads in the world. In a typical year, motor accident deaths there average 14-15 per hour, well in excess of 100,00 deaths each year. It peaked at one death every 3.5 minutes in 2011. I have spent quite some time there and wouldn't dream of driving myself, not on a bet, because I can't make any sense of the chaos on the roads.

People driving the wrong way ...on a dual carriage way ...in the fast lane. Overtaking on the wrong side, on a mountainous curve, in the rain, at night, in a motor coach, with just one headlight.

Motor vehicles (including farm tractors), ox and camel-drawn carts, herds of goats, all sharing the same roads, both day and night. Yet somehow they cope ...to an extent. All in a day's work for an Indian driver.

The only part I've figured out is you must sound the horn continually when the engine is in operation.

If you think I'm exaggerating, just watch this.

Just as amazing, with such a high death rate, only 18 people out of every 1000 own a motor car. Ownership in the UK is 29x that high. Then again, maybe the high death rate is why only 18/1000 own a car.

The elements that make it so dangerous for automobile drivers must make it sheer suicide for bicyclists. If I lived there, I should think I would concentrate on the MTBing...


...but then there's the tigers ....

Thats why i condsidered meself sort of brave, i am located in new delhi, india now and i go for a ride regularly.

 

[StyrbjornSterki]

Thats why i condsidered meself sort of brave, i am located in new delhi, india now and i go for a ride regularly.

Namaste, friend, my prayers are with you.