If you are reading this post is that you are thinking of renting a motorcycle and traveling with it through India, but you have doubts about whether you will be able, if the traffic will be so chaotic that they will not let you move, if it will be very dangerous ... in short, if it is a good idea.
Well, we are going to try to explain the tricks to drive a motorcycle in India to take your fear off, if we could too!
BASIC CONSIDERATIONS
India is a super populated country, there are Indians even in the soup! And they also love to move! Many do it with their wonderful network of railways, but there are also those that do it by road. By this we mean that in most cases you will always find yourself with a lot of traffic.
Here, as in most countries colonized by England, drive on the left. Do not be afraid because within a few minutes of going on the road one adapts easily. But don't trust!
There are signs of all kinds, including traffic guards at many crossings controlling, among other things, that tuctucs do not go with extra passengers. Nevertheless the law that triumphs here is "the law of the strongest".
Pite here is mandatory. It is not a sign of protest as we are used to, here the whistle is used to notify the one in front of you that you are going to advance it. Virtually every time you make a decision you have to use the whistle. They already put all the truckers in their backs "Please horn" or "Sound horn".
When they make the additions to the lane they usually don't look, let's say that the problem is that of finding the new one, and not the new one. You have to be very attentive to the vehicles you have on the sides Well, at any time you can join without looking.
Avoid going behind a tuctuc or a bus. Why? Because at the least expected moment they will hit a brake to pick up or drop off passengers. Many times buses stop anywhere, without necessarily having a stop.
DRIVING IN THE CITY
Patience is indispensable. You will have to jerk, accelerate and brake, let yourself get ahead of other heavier vehicles ... Well, just think that you are not the only one stuck in these streets and take a break.
Decision. On many occasions you will find yourself in front of a crossing more similar to hell than to a road. In those cases you have to be very attentive to your sides to cross at the right time. It is best to wait for some of the tuctucs you have next to start crossing to do it by your side, you will see how the rest of the traffic will stop and finally you will be able to cross! At first it is somewhat complicated, then you will do it as if you were an Indian.
Beware of cows! They are here the bosses and before them you can do nothing but wait for them to cross, if necessary you will have to take a foot to the ground. The good thing is that they are very quiet and you can predict where they are going to throw.
If you are lost and you need to find a street, a hotel or an address it is best to ask tuctuc drivers. They almost always know where you are looking for and sometimes they will accompany you to the detour!
DRIVING ON THE ROAD
It is essential to know that here lthe vehicles have preference depending on their size. Yes gentlemen, in India size matters! And a lot! Following this rule, the kings of the road are trucks, followed by buses within walking distance. Next are the Jeeps and 4X4 cars, then the big and new cars, then the normal cars, tuctucs, and finally the motorcycles and bicycles. Keep this rule in mind if you drive a motorcycle, as most of the time you will have to give way.
In theory, you should go to the left and go to the right, but you will find yourself many times where the trucks go along the lane they want. To advance them you will have to go zigzagging. But we recommend always going down the left lane.
Do not use the shoulder. It is normally used as an acceleration lane for vehicles to enter the road. But here you can find everything: ox carts, elephants, cows, kids who go to school, wandering walkers, etc. Most of them will go slower than you so so that you do not have a scare it is best not to use the shoulder, except when you are beaten from behind and have to give way.
In NH tolls motorcycles do not pay. There is a lane to the left where you can pass without having to stop. Yuppi! 🙂
Well here our guide for motorcycle riding in india, hopefully it serves you. If you need more info just ask and it will be given to you, if we are that majetes así
AND REMEMBER… . GO SLOW! IT IS BETTER TO ARRIVE LATER THAN EVER 😛
