Fact: Pune has the largest number of 2 wheelers in the World.
Mine's a TN 30 AU 2644, a black pleasure with all required documents. Let me tell you how it is to ride in Pune.
It all started with this:
So how is Pune* for driving? Let's see,.
- No one follows the lane system. Let's say people are compelled no to. Heavy vehicles and cars do not take the right lane nor do the 2 wheelers take the left. Only when most things seem right, there will be a car honking behind you on the left lane.
- Highways are supposed to be smooth for long drives, that's why many prefer the highway. Well here, the Mumbai-Pune highway has amazingly huge potholes.
- A tunnel, wherein you shouldn't really slow-down. It's dark and it hoists a 'work under process' board sometimes. Another smaller tunnel ends near a bend, with not legible stickers or warnings. They also contain pits, not to forget.
- The autowalas as in every city, drive rash. That's not new, is it? They drive so close, that they leave only a hairline distance between your leg and their auto.
- The speed-breakers are quite interesting here in Pune. Baner's is different from Katraj's which is different from Hadapsar's which is different from Chinchwad's.
Not to forget the annoying white markers, that are meant to slow you down before the speed-bump. All it helps to achieve is to aggressively shake your whole body for an entire second.
- Honking seems to be a man's best friend here. Long honks are as irritating as water dripping on your forehead.
- How can anyone forget the rain-duct bumps on every other bridge in Pune?
- I have always felt doubtful about the buses that are supposed to be on the right lane, but come to the left corner during the stops. Never follow / ride behind a bus.
- The way buses roll is also weird. Things noted are:
- Buses do not have proper name boards. All numbers are in Hindi.
- Most buses that do have name boards do not have a light for reading the destination name, at night.
- Bus drivers do not stop for just 1 or 2 waiting at a bus stop.
- Even if the bus stops, it does only for one exact second, no matter how many are getting on or off.
- Heavy power bikes like Duke, 200 NS, Avenger, Royal Enfield, Harleys etc,. are on the rise these days. But normal bikes that artificially sound like a race bike, only look pathetic, instead of cool.
Following are the traits that almost everyone seem to possess:
- Cars are annoying, to motorists. Bikes are annoying to car owners. Pedestrians annoy both.
- The places that are crowded during the weekends have parking issues always and people walk almost upto half the road. Even a double lane road becomes a single lane road.
- Post 11 p.m assholes fill the city. People drink & drive and also rash driving will be more prevalent. (Read more about the weird incident - 'The Drunk Lady'.)
- People think too much, specially whilst driving and parking. They do not care who is in front or behind their gaadi.
- All vehicles must have atleast one rear view mirror. This must be enforced as soon as possible. They way one turns his head to look behind, while taking a turn, is crazy.
- Most men identify if a car is being driven by a woman. Riding behind loud-music-playing cars or women-driven cars are NOT safe.
- Riding behind aunties is also NOT advisable. They play with the indicators sometimes, and shout at others for their mistakes. Just like at home.
- Young women wear scarves to protect their skin and hair, which is good. Most of them wear helmets, also good. Fidgeting phone and driving, not good. Breaking the signal while it's still red, not cool. Sticking both legs out during a halt, (also called 'landing gear' by most males) is funny.
*I love Pune for everything else, except the roads and driving conditions. Pardon me for being a hater. I make sure I don't fall a culprit into any of the above mentioned points.
Mine's a TN 30 AU 2644, a black pleasure with all required documents. Let me tell you how it is to ride in Pune.
It all started with this:
I really need to cursor down, the driving conditions here in Pune, soon. #BloggingFor which the reply from a Pune-ite was:
— Indhuja Pillai (@weirdgirlwired) October 12, 2013
@weirdgirlwired Hahaha..welcome to Pune ! Where if you follow lane system while driving, you are stupid ! :P Neways all the best ! XDWhich seemed to be so true.
— Varun Kulkarni (@TheVarunK) October 12, 2013
So how is Pune* for driving? Let's see,.
- No one follows the lane system. Let's say people are compelled no to. Heavy vehicles and cars do not take the right lane nor do the 2 wheelers take the left. Only when most things seem right, there will be a car honking behind you on the left lane.
- Highways are supposed to be smooth for long drives, that's why many prefer the highway. Well here, the Mumbai-Pune highway has amazingly huge potholes.- A tunnel, wherein you shouldn't really slow-down. It's dark and it hoists a 'work under process' board sometimes. Another smaller tunnel ends near a bend, with not legible stickers or warnings. They also contain pits, not to forget.
- The autowalas as in every city, drive rash. That's not new, is it? They drive so close, that they leave only a hairline distance between your leg and their auto.
- The speed-breakers are quite interesting here in Pune. Baner's is different from Katraj's which is different from Hadapsar's which is different from Chinchwad's.Not to forget the annoying white markers, that are meant to slow you down before the speed-bump. All it helps to achieve is to aggressively shake your whole body for an entire second.
- Honking seems to be a man's best friend here. Long honks are as irritating as water dripping on your forehead.
- How can anyone forget the rain-duct bumps on every other bridge in Pune?
- I have always felt doubtful about the buses that are supposed to be on the right lane, but come to the left corner during the stops. Never follow / ride behind a bus.
- The way buses roll is also weird. Things noted are:
- Buses do not have proper name boards. All numbers are in Hindi.
- Most buses that do have name boards do not have a light for reading the destination name, at night.
- Bus drivers do not stop for just 1 or 2 waiting at a bus stop.
- Even if the bus stops, it does only for one exact second, no matter how many are getting on or off.
- Heavy power bikes like Duke, 200 NS, Avenger, Royal Enfield, Harleys etc,. are on the rise these days. But normal bikes that artificially sound like a race bike, only look pathetic, instead of cool.
- I salute the biker groups that have safety rules. (I might be referring to http://nakedwolves.in/. Rock on guys & always stand an example.)
- Cars are annoying, to motorists. Bikes are annoying to car owners. Pedestrians annoy both.
- The places that are crowded during the weekends have parking issues always and people walk almost upto half the road. Even a double lane road becomes a single lane road.- Post 11 p.m assholes fill the city. People drink & drive and also rash driving will be more prevalent. (Read more about the weird incident - 'The Drunk Lady'.)
- People think too much, specially whilst driving and parking. They do not care who is in front or behind their gaadi.
- All vehicles must have atleast one rear view mirror. This must be enforced as soon as possible. They way one turns his head to look behind, while taking a turn, is crazy.
- Most men identify if a car is being driven by a woman. Riding behind loud-music-playing cars or women-driven cars are NOT safe.
- Riding behind aunties is also NOT advisable. They play with the indicators sometimes, and shout at others for their mistakes. Just like at home.
- Young women wear scarves to protect their skin and hair, which is good. Most of them wear helmets, also good. Fidgeting phone and driving, not good. Breaking the signal while it's still red, not cool. Sticking both legs out during a halt, (also called 'landing gear' by most males) is funny.
*I love Pune for everything else, except the roads and driving conditions. Pardon me for being a hater. I make sure I don't fall a culprit into any of the above mentioned points.