How to cross an Indian Road

Kingstonian · Mar 3rd, 2008, 14:55

Quote:

Originally Posted by MrsC_772

Crossing the road strikes me as another example of "it shouldn't work, you can't explain how it works, but somehow it just does" -

Yes!

Varanasi, in retrospect, was easier (didn't seem so at the time), I think because the roads I was on were so much narrower that traffic was necessarily much slower than the streets I found myself on in Delhi, Agra or Jaipur.

Sometimes I found it helped to seek out the eye of the driver (car/rickshaw/whatever), fix it with my best attempt at a 1000-yard stare, and just move out into the road.

At other times, I'd barely look at all, no eye-contact, and would just move out into the road ...

Other times, I just stood and gazed.

Can't actually think now what made the difference!

Cows, though, I gave the right of way to. Didn't see any merit in taking on a creature with unpredictable responses armed with two deadly weapons.

Re Tantramans' original post - I had a similar experience over 20 years ago in Greece. After living and working there a few months, I came out of work late one evening, and crossed the unusually quiet road to catch the tram on the other side. Waiting at the tram stop, it suddenly hit me that I'd acted like a Brit, and looked right, not left ... I still remember vividly the cold grue that came over me, when I realised how close I came to walking stupidly into catastrophe.

Nick-H · Mar 3rd, 2008, 15:23

... Four deadly weapons.

A kick from those back legs can be very nasty!

Munivar · Mar 12th, 2008, 10:05

Indian traffic
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RjrEQaG5jPM

How to cross (or how not to)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y9DLlMMXhKg

atala · Mar 12th, 2008, 20:31

I noticed how Indian pedestrians do not dare to move into a road when a dozen of them stand there and stare at oncoming traffic until they get an opportunity to move on. There is a way of moving inch by inch and thereby narrowing down the passage where vehicles can drive. At some point I just wave with a stop signal (without looking at the driver),or better with a pointer (my hand pointing to the place where I want a car to stop) and then just walk. What I find risky is the hesitation. But this what I mean here is with not too fast moving city traffic.

Another way is just to choose a car that is still far away and to decide to move in front of that one and signal it to that particular driver. Some authority is required there. I make a statement when I cross the street. That is important for me too to overcome my possible hesitation. Of course I will never rush into a road, but select the car, make the statement, and move appropriately.

nedhopkins · Mar 13th, 2008, 14:07

At the far end of the India Gate park, I waited and waited for a break in the traffic. After about ten minutes a policeman took pity; came across the road; and led me safely to the other side. I do believe I've experienced more acts of kindness in India than in any other country I've visited.

ebby · Mar 13th, 2008, 14:48

One method is to go forward three or four steps, step back one to give way for a vehicle, rush forward to the divider & so on. My aged father used to close his eyes and just rush forward to cross the road. Lived up to a ripe age of 90 and died of natural causes.

tacita · Mar 17th, 2008, 10:09

my own tactic was to pick out an indian man who looked like he knew what he was doing, scurry over, and then walk in lock-step with him to the other side. (i made sure that he was between me and the oncoming traffic!) the herd approach works equally well--but there wasn't always a herd to join.

puchoo · Mar 17th, 2008, 10:51

!! Some of us Indian's follow this strategy as well!!!

Quote:

Originally Posted by janice

my own tactic was to pick out an indian man who looked like he knew what he was doing, scurry over, and then walk in lock-step with him to the other side. (
n.

Nick-H · Mar 17th, 2008, 13:41

Some Indian dogs do it too. That's quite funny to see

puchoo · Mar 17th, 2008, 13:50

Its a 'dog's life' isin't it??

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nick-H

Some Indian dogs do it too. That's quite funny to see

chAos · Mar 18th, 2008, 05:07

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nick-H

But what if they take you back to the same side you just left?

Not exactly this, but something similar while in Mumbai:
Crossing a large and busy street, I was swept down-street much like the current in a river; ended up not directly across the street, but kitty-corner from where I started. So had to cross 2 streets just to get across the one!

Usually it's easy enough to cross when the streets are very crowded because the cars are moving pretty slowly. How is it now in some places (am thinking outer rings of Hyderabad, for example) where the traffic is moving faster? Same techniques or something different?

reneeautumn · Mar 28th, 2008, 01:28

I like the herd approach. I'm wondering how different an Indian street will be than trying to walk through Chinatown in New York on a Saturday.

tacita · Mar 28th, 2008, 03:02

Quote:

Originally Posted by reneeautumn

I like the herd approach. I'm wondering how different an Indian street will be than trying to walk through Chinatown in New York on a Saturday.

not even close! crossing indian roads makes traversing canal street (or anywhere else in chinatown) seem like a stroll across the grounds of an amusement park. if you've ever tried to cross a street in instanbul, you begin to approach the universe that is indian road-crossing, but still a far cry from la terreur!

reneeautumn · Mar 28th, 2008, 21:00

Sweet! I like a challenge.

sssall · Mar 28th, 2008, 21:32

On my recent trip, I met an English couple who were invited to the same wedding as me.

On their first day, after landing at Amritsar and dropping off their luggage, they went shopping with a few other people.

Whilst others were inside a shop in Phagwara, the man decided to wait outside the shop. He noticed a motorbike coming at him and moved back. Another motorbike from the other direction then hit him and sent him flying. Luckily he didn't break any bones.

Keeping stiff upper lip, he didn't ask for any treatment and took full part in the wedding festivities which started the next day.

Two days later after the wedding, he was in agony and wished he'd seen a doctor.

This was their first trip and probably their last. He wasn't even trying to cross the road.

(BTW, I wasn't with them when the accident happened)

Mar 3rd, 2008, 15:23	#62
Nick-H Loud-mouthed, Noisy Bird Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 22,935	... Four deadly weapons. A kick from those back legs can be very nasty! __________________ . IndiaMike Mod Team (The Grumpy One)

Mar 12th, 2008, 10:05	#63
Munivar Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Seattle Posts: 119	Indian traffic http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RjrEQaG5jPM How to cross (or how not to) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y9DLlMMXhKg __________________ Yaadhum Oore Yaavarum Kaelir !!!

Mar 17th, 2008, 10:09	#67
tacita Maha Mutant Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Gotham Posts: 1,400	my own tactic was to pick out an indian man who looked like he knew what he was doing, scurry over, and then walk in lock-step with him to the other side. (i made sure that he was between me and the oncoming traffic!) the herd approach works equally well--but there wasn't always a herd to join. __________________ Life is either a daring adventure, or nothing. ~Helen Keller

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Mar 12th, 2008, 20:31	#64
atala Senior Member, 8 yrs in India Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Switzerland, just back from India 2008 Posts: 662	I noticed how Indian pedestrians do not dare to move into a road when a dozen of them stand there and stare at oncoming traffic until they get an opportunity to move on. There is a way of moving inch by inch and thereby narrowing down the passage where vehicles can drive. At some point I just wave with a stop signal (without looking at the driver),or better with a pointer (my hand pointing to the place where I want a car to stop) and then just walk. What I find risky is the hesitation. But this what I mean here is with not too fast moving city traffic. Another way is just to choose a car that is still far away and to decide to move in front of that one and signal it to that particular driver. Some authority is required there. I make a statement when I cross the street. That is important for me too to overcome my possible hesitation. Of course I will never rush into a road, but select the car, make the statement, and move appropriately.

Mar 13th, 2008, 14:07	#65
nedhopkins Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: California Posts: 229	At the far end of the India Gate park, I waited and waited for a break in the traffic. After about ten minutes a policeman took pity; came across the road; and led me safely to the other side. I do believe I've experienced more acts of kindness in India than in any other country I've visited.

Mar 13th, 2008, 14:48	#66
ebby Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Mysore, India Posts: 278	One method is to go forward three or four steps, step back one to give way for a vehicle, rush forward to the divider & so on. My aged father used to close his eyes and just rush forward to cross the road. Lived up to a ripe age of 90 and died of natural causes.

Mar 17th, 2008, 13:41	#69
Nick-H Loud-mouthed, Noisy Bird Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 22,935	Some Indian dogs do it too. That's quite funny to see

Mar 28th, 2008, 01:28	#72
reneeautumn Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Florida Posts: 55	I like the herd approach. I'm wondering how different an Indian street will be than trying to walk through Chinatown in New York on a Saturday.

Mar 28th, 2008, 21:00	#74
reneeautumn Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Florida Posts: 55	Sweet! I like a challenge.

Mar 28th, 2008, 21:32	#75
sssall Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: UK Posts: 135	On my recent trip, I met an English couple who were invited to the same wedding as me. On their first day, after landing at Amritsar and dropping off their luggage, they went shopping with a few other people. Whilst others were inside a shop in Phagwara, the man decided to wait outside the shop. He noticed a motorbike coming at him and moved back. Another motorbike from the other direction then hit him and sent him flying. Luckily he didn't break any bones. Keeping stiff upper lip, he didn't ask for any treatment and took full part in the wedding festivities which started the next day. Two days later after the wedding, he was in agony and wished he'd seen a doctor. This was their first trip and probably their last. He wasn't even trying to cross the road. (BTW, I wasn't with them when the accident happened)

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