The wife and I rode to work for the first time today. Yes, we are now the people who fall under the demographic of Sec A+, 18-30, M/F, double income group, who live in a rented flat but own a two-wheeler. With help from the parents, we got ourselves a Honda Activa – a highly recommended and popular choice for young urban couples.
I thought I would enjoy the ride to work and back but today’s ride was a nerve-wracking experience. Before this, my only riding experience in Mumbai city has been on bicycles. I’ve ridden the Activa before but that was only a short distance, that too between Ulhasnagar and Ambarnath.
To begin with, I am not used to the idea of the big helmet. This heavy object feels like it will take my head and roll away. It also constricts your vision considerably. But what is a little discomfort if it saves your head from becoming a cracked watermelon?
I realized that I was being ultra-super-aware of everything around me. I was constantly monitoring both rear-view mirrors, keeping an eye on the speedometer, looking at the road to avoid potholes and looking at the closest vehicle up ahead trying to keep a safe distance from it.
My back would constantly heave from the bounce of the new purring machine under me. My shoulders would pass on their stiffness to my arms causing me to stretch them every few kilometers. My eyes began to hurt from the extra focus.
All my nerves felt like they belonged to a bomb-squad personnel who was wondering whether to cut the red wire or the blue wire. I was making crucial decisions at every step. Do I overtake this bus or do I just follow it? Do I take this bridge or not? Taking the aisle between cars and the wall of the bridge was the scariest part of today’s journey. All the time I eked out of the narrow space tackling rear-view mirror hi-fives, I kept thinking, “what if one of the cars decided to swerve left and nudged us off the bridge?” It is a terrifying thought. It is still alright if you are a solo rider but you feel doubly responsible with family riding pillion.
Riding back home was comparatively funner. Mostly because the cold December wind is pleasant and there was no sun. We left work late and found less traffic. I even sang aloud to myself. I don’t know if the wife heard me though.
I am going to miss the lack of focus I could afford while travelling in a cab but I think I can get used to this.
I also learnt a few things today.
Jaywalkers will only understand what they are doing wrong when they become motorists themselves. I almost told a guy to use the footpath today. You suddenly feel like you own the road you are riding on and anyone coming between you and your road is a ‘stupid idiot who doesn’t know where he is going’. What an interesting turn of events for someone who has been a jaywalking pedestrian all this while!
Being a cyclist, I know not to rush cyclists if they hold me up. If I wait a few seconds, I can overtake them easily without bothering them. I’ve also decided to not honk until it is highly necessary.
I plan to be a good motorist, someone who waits for the lights to turn green before zooming away and someone who stops before the zebra crossing. I got told off by a biker already for doing that already. He said, “Tu jaao nakos…mala tari javoo de!” (You don’t go, at least let me go).
We ride between Chembur and Parel (Elphinstone also). Is there something we should watch out for? Something I should do or not do? Tips welcome.
7 comments:
Stay out of the way of those rash bikers, also famously known as CRCB (Carter Road Ch****a Biker). CRCBs is a species that found not just at Carter Road but is present all over the city. They wear their helmets on their elbow, their brains in their knee caps and has complete disregard for the safety of others.
If they honk incessantly, let them pass. Over time you will realize that they are dumb and place their bike as soon they find a small opening without realizing that they won't pass more than one vehicle. Instead, if you take your time and evaluate overtakes, you will realize that a calculated overtaking that's done few seconds later is a lot more effective.
MOST IMPORTANT: DO NOT PARK ON SIDE STAND, ALWAYS USE CENTRE STAND. Nothing irks me more than a single vehicle taking double/triple parking space by being parked on the side stand.
I have been riding around in Bangalore on a scooter for over a year now and with terrible start to the day, I feel compelled to comment.
Riding in a city with narrower roads and a whole lot of dumbfucks, Mumbai should treat you better. And for all those who tell you to "let them go while you wait", please tell them to go die. There is no place in this world for them.
what you experienced and describe as fear now will turn into absolute euphoria in a couple of weeks. it's like swimming. scary at first, but then you enjoy it. but just like swimming, it can stop being fun and get dangerous really quickly. here are a few things that help me:
remember it's a machine:
never at any point do you have complete control of the bike. you may feel that way and maybe after a couple of thousand kms under your belt you'll feel as if you have mastered her. don't be fooled now. there is a particular way the bike will move that you know of but there are many more which you cannot predict. so be aware of what she is telling you (feedback from the road, the way she twists and turns over obstacles, etc.) listen and learn along the way. respect the machine and she'll respect you too.
look at the road:
i know this seems like a basic thing but you'll be surprised at how many accidents take place because people aren't looking at the road. and by look i mean observe. look out for a bad patch or rubble. avoid braking on these. rubble can be worse than oil if you break. when you see oil, slow down instead of braking. sudden braking will throw you off balance. remember, they're there to slow you down, not stop on a dime. avoid parts of the road that are uneven. and by this i mean the small parts between 2 concrete pieces of the road and the edges. there is a HUGE possibility that you will skid while trying to get back up on the road or cross from one lane to another. AVOID riding on the painted pieces. these things get slippery when wet. always scan the road for hazards - treat every wet patch as an oil patch, look out for large potholes (sometimes slowing down and going through them is safer than swerving suddenly) and the odd rickshaw swerving to pick up a passenger. stay focused on the street - shops, incredible ads on billboards and the wife's chatter can wait a few minutes more :)
chew gum - there will be days when the hum of the engine might seems like a pleasant lullaby. always keep gum handy. your mind won't let you sleep if you're eating. has saved me one time too many.
don't ride slowly - riding slowly does not equal riding safely. idiots who ride at 40 in the fast lane deserve what's coming to them. ride smart instead. gauge the vehicle in front of you at all times. keep an eye out for their signal light (braking/turning). look through their windshield at times. it has saved me from crashing into cars who brake because of the assholes in front of them numerous times. don't ride like a maniac either. speed is something that is not always necessary but can be used to get you out of sticky spots.
BE PARANOID - yes. always be wary. you're on 2 wheels and completely exposed at all times. look at the front wheels of parked cars. if they've turned outward, there is a good chance they're exiting and there is a good chance that the idiot will not signal or wait for you to clear. stay wary of falling debris from dumpers. i generally never ride behind or beside them. i've seen chunks of rear tyre fly by my face. think that everyone is out to get you and you'll survive. :)
always check on the passenger - will help them stay awake plus you'll know if they're comfy or not. ask them not to move with you if you're turning or taking a sharp bend. this will throw your center of balance off. your pillion is an extra set of eyes on the road, so ask them to tap you in case something's coming up that they feel you're missing. be wary of their feet when cutting corners :)
so much more to say. but welcome to the club. and enjoy the world moving 6 inches below you.
Wow! Thank you for taking time off to give me tips! Binoy, Maithili, Clyde...so awesome all of you are! :D
Hey Yo! A few tips from me too:
1) If you take the Dadar bridge, the only way to skip traffic on that bridge is to capitalize on the fact that there's no divider on the road. You ought to create an imaginary last lane (which only you are on) and make your way skimming through like a moving divider. It may be scary at first, but after 2-3 tries you should master that.
2) One important tip while riding the activa is, 'Do not accelerate while braking or vice-verse' It messes up the machine. Use the left brake and after a few seconds use the right brake too (together) for optimum braking.
3) To skip congested roads especially while approaching a signal - Keep to your extreme left. Works brilliantly ....every time.
Good Luck :)
Yay, thank you, Rochelle!
Just one piece of advice brother. When you see an autorickshaw in front of you, behind you or anywhere in your vicinity - beware! Watch it with hawk eyes. Listen to its rumble. Feel the vibrations from the kerosene fuelled toy engine pulling 3 overweight madams pull up close. Now understand that the guy in the front seat is only there to take money from his passengers. For the most part, the rickshaw acts as if its completely autonomous. It turns suddenly and stops suddenly. After driving for 15 years, I am still unable to guess what any rickshaw driver is planning to do next. One moment they are going serenely in the opposite direction, and the next moment, they have executed a U turn on 2 wheels - and is stopped right in front of you. Really, that happens- I am not kidding ya! You will never see him indicating a turn, or turning or stopping. You will only see them stopped a centimetre in front of you just before you crash into his bumper! Oh Well! God speed!
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