So they say four wheels move the body and two wheels move the soul. However, what if while feeding some two-wheeled soup to your soul, an experience on the road makes that very invisible part inside want to curse you for giving it an escape route out of your body? What do you do when you find yourself and your machine in a ‘what the duck’ situation, even when you do everything by the book?
The naked truth is, we live in a country where traffic rules are followed just because we don’t wish to be caught by a whistle equipped saint, who is waiting for his next prey to jump a red light and make a compulsory donation to his weekend alcohol fund. If we had our way, we’d equip our driving machines with howitzers and blow up everything that stands in our way and dictates rules.
Now, unless you have been foolish enough to spend more and buy a car with airbags and such other stupid safety features, you might feel safe while being enclosed in a tin-box which has failed all the safety tests and comes devoid of juvenile equipment like balloons which inflate on impact to keep the child inside the car happy. Equipment which people think we Indians don’t need, as they now equip our cars with a specially designed dashboard which has space for our gods and who we must hope are kind to us. However, there is still no such provision for motorcycles and if you are astride one in India, your only option is to live on your prayers.
So what are these situations we think could put your heart and peanuts in your mouth?
Instance #1: Red after dark is Green
Let’s begin with a dilemma, where breaking the law does actually come across as the sensible thing to do. Although debatable, ignoring a red light might actually save your life sometimes. Imagine its late in the night and the traffic is sparse. Taking inspiration from a TV show, hosted by an actor who wants us to be better citizens, you come across a red light and although there is no one in sight, instead of thinking red as green, you stop. However, there could be someone behind you, to whom motorcycles on the road are invisible and traffic signals in the night are like fancy street furniture. As you glance in your RVM, that someone starts to approach at an alarming speed and before you could curse yourself for being nice in a world so bent, that man hits your motorcycle, tosses you several feet high up and on your way back down, you see your soul depart to go see the ‘Mangalyaan’. There must’ve been someone who has lived this situation and if still alive, might agree that not following the rule that night could’ve saved him of the injuries he now lives with. Although it would be a better idea to stay on the extreme left in such situations, you might come across a similar red light one night, what would you do then?
Instance #2: Animal Planet
We are an animal loving country, explains why we hardly witness any PETA protests, not even the ones where people are dressed. Explains why animals on our roads are as common a sight as are gun wielding hooligans in our neighbouring nations. Cows are sacred, so people are scared to shoo them away from the road; in fact, some think that their journey will now be uneventful since they came across one. However, these thoughts wouldn’t be shared by that bloke who is following a large bus on a motorcycle, when the bus driver does nothing to slow down, takes the other lane, misses the cow and leaves the ‘Moowtorcyclist’ to deal with it. Although a good rider will always keep a safe distance from tall, large vehicles which obstruct the view ahead.
A dog is a man’s best friend, but the friendship suddenly comes apart when a human is astride a bike. If stray dogs had their way, they would take a protest right till the Parliament, asking for all the roads in this country to be declared as their ancestral property. Their agitation has gained some real momentum these days, as they are now found across some tracks in India too. Similarly, goats, sheep, chickens and a variety of such animals decorate our roads and lurk in the bushes until they see an approaching biker and decide to test his safety gear. Think you have developed some skills over the years to dodge such creatures on the road, please do share it with us.
Thanks Avishek, agreed that they sometimes put us through some not so cute situations, but then it is the parent who must educate them about such hazards.
Sir, you forgot our country’s cute kids..they are fond of jumping in front of motorcyclists.
Thank you for sharing your experience Raaj, ride safe!
The worst experience is when you are speeding on a highway and people suddenly cross the road and you dont know how to stop …i was on the WEH in Bombay, riding my bike at 100kmph above because the road was totally empty being gokulastami.
Suddenly, while riding the bike speed i observed an activa crossing the highway in the wrong direction and worst thing was that he brings his scooter and puts it on side stand in the middle of the highway. i had to press the brakes hard and lower the gears to save that man and me..luckily the bike rear tyre skid a bit.but came to a standstill just a few inches from the activa..thanked God i was saved. above that the man.comes upto me and starts abusing.me.as to why was i riding the bike in speed. i started laughing at 1st and so wondered that he parks the bike on d middle of highway and abuses me..this was hilarious although a scary nightmare
i have had daily encounters of such instances what are noted down on your list.
worst thing is when people see the signal is green and vehicles will come but stil cross the road blindly speakin on the cellphone,
mainly women. the way they drive cars or walk on the roads as if no one exists other than them. dont see vehicles and cross roads..i have had a accident trying to miss a lady who suddenly came in front of my bike avoiding her and banging.myself into a stationary car. and the people and cops held me responsible, saying that i was speeding, whereas i was in 2nd gear as the signal just turned green. Managed to save myself though, as in my effort to avoid hitting the lady, I tilted the bike and let it skid.