The Auto – An Amazing Invention
This post is exclusively about the most common mode of Indian transport – the auto! :)
Everyone, I literally mean everyone, would have traveled in an auto at least once in their life. It is an exhilarating and out-of-the-world experience. Especially on our amazing Indian roads.
There are many types of autos – school autos, those that are meant for school children, but used for a lot of other purposes outside school hours for a few extra bucks. Then there is the famous yellow coloured auto whose sole purpose is it to drop a person from one place to another. They have other purposes too, like school autos. There are also bigger autos that are used for transportation of goods. Of course, there are the share autos – the common man’s most common mode of transport.
The auto’s design makes for some interesting food for thought. It is a three wheeled vehicle. They are generally fitted with an air-cooled scooter version of a two-stroke engine , with handlebar controls instead of a steering-wheel. It can go up to 50km/hr as per its design, but our auto drivers have no qualm taking it as high as they want. It has a small cabin in the front to seat the driver, and a seat at the back that can hold up to 4 people. Ah, but who cares! I can’t part with my family of ten. We will definitely go in the same auto. Who cares if it is overflowing with people! :P
No vehicle can turn abruptly like an auto can. An auto can actually make a full 360 degree turn with very little effort. So while you are driving on the road, if you are taken aback by the sudden appearance of an auto in your path, not to worry. It’s just our dear auto drivers making a turn.
Auto drivers can make some really amazing maneuvers. If you are running late to some place, all you have to do is tell the auto driver to go soon and hold on to dear life. You reach your destination before you can snap your fingers!
With its novel triangular form, cruising in traffic becomes easy, with the front single wheel negotiating the available gap, and the two rear wheels forcing a larger space. None of the weakly attempted traffic rules can reduce the resulting traffic slow-down issues. As a result, it is a common sight to see our autos standing is different angles and orientations at a traffic signal. I once had an auto driver asking me to keep my feet up on my scooty (I had rested them on the road as the traffic was very slow moving) so that he could use that gap to squeeze through the slow moving traffic.
Apart from this, our auto drivers are excellent conversationalists and eavesdroppers. You may be having an intent conversation with your friend, but do not be surprised if you receive an input from the driver. Poor fellow, probably got bored. Even English isn’t a safe language to escape their listening skills as, hold you breath, some of our auto drivers are well educated degree-holders! Unemployment would have goaded them into becoming an auto driver. I bet they wouldn’t be ready to give it up even if they landed a job that honours their degree. Come on, who wants a job in an office when you are earning more driving an auto! Seriously. I sometimes feel ashamed about the phone I have. They have better mobile phones!
All said and done, autos are still the most favourite and common mode of transport and so much fun! Why go abroad to experience a roller-coaster ride when you can have it here everyday! We are, after all, riding what James Bond rode everyday. ;)
Enjoy your auto ride! :)
Everyone, I literally mean everyone, would have traveled in an auto at least once in their life. It is an exhilarating and out-of-the-world experience. Especially on our amazing Indian roads.
There are many types of autos – school autos, those that are meant for school children, but used for a lot of other purposes outside school hours for a few extra bucks. Then there is the famous yellow coloured auto whose sole purpose is it to drop a person from one place to another. They have other purposes too, like school autos. There are also bigger autos that are used for transportation of goods. Of course, there are the share autos – the common man’s most common mode of transport.
The auto’s design makes for some interesting food for thought. It is a three wheeled vehicle. They are generally fitted with an air-cooled scooter version of a two-stroke engine , with handlebar controls instead of a steering-wheel. It can go up to 50km/hr as per its design, but our auto drivers have no qualm taking it as high as they want. It has a small cabin in the front to seat the driver, and a seat at the back that can hold up to 4 people. Ah, but who cares! I can’t part with my family of ten. We will definitely go in the same auto. Who cares if it is overflowing with people! :P
No vehicle can turn abruptly like an auto can. An auto can actually make a full 360 degree turn with very little effort. So while you are driving on the road, if you are taken aback by the sudden appearance of an auto in your path, not to worry. It’s just our dear auto drivers making a turn.
Auto drivers can make some really amazing maneuvers. If you are running late to some place, all you have to do is tell the auto driver to go soon and hold on to dear life. You reach your destination before you can snap your fingers!
With its novel triangular form, cruising in traffic becomes easy, with the front single wheel negotiating the available gap, and the two rear wheels forcing a larger space. None of the weakly attempted traffic rules can reduce the resulting traffic slow-down issues. As a result, it is a common sight to see our autos standing is different angles and orientations at a traffic signal. I once had an auto driver asking me to keep my feet up on my scooty (I had rested them on the road as the traffic was very slow moving) so that he could use that gap to squeeze through the slow moving traffic.
Apart from this, our auto drivers are excellent conversationalists and eavesdroppers. You may be having an intent conversation with your friend, but do not be surprised if you receive an input from the driver. Poor fellow, probably got bored. Even English isn’t a safe language to escape their listening skills as, hold you breath, some of our auto drivers are well educated degree-holders! Unemployment would have goaded them into becoming an auto driver. I bet they wouldn’t be ready to give it up even if they landed a job that honours their degree. Come on, who wants a job in an office when you are earning more driving an auto! Seriously. I sometimes feel ashamed about the phone I have. They have better mobile phones!
All said and done, autos are still the most favourite and common mode of transport and so much fun! Why go abroad to experience a roller-coaster ride when you can have it here everyday! We are, after all, riding what James Bond rode everyday. ;)
Enjoy your auto ride! :)
posted by Janani at
7:13 PM
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