Which city has the worst autorickshaw drivers?

sirensongs

Same thing that's fun about the lists of "all time worst movies" or Dave Barry's "worst song lyrics of all time." Also, we've all got horror stories and it's cathartic and therapeutic to share negative experiences in a light-hearted way.

Okay, we can do "Which city has the BEST rickshaw drivers?" but it won't be nearly as much fun....

In fact, which city does have the best auto drivers? So far, Trivandrum, anywhere in Kerala, and Pune are not too bad....

My vote in the worst category has got to be Chennai, hands down.

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sirensongs

[quote=concoran]It's a hard question to answer since you should have visited all the above cities and have actually used autos everywhere.
QUOTE]

Well, not really - not any more than you must have visited all the "freak" places to vote in the "most freaks and hippies" poll.

phobal

Delhi has the nicest. Always have a smile. When they try to sell stuff to you, you just have to say to them once "guy, I gotta get there, thanks but i'm not interested." They provide the best experience, as long as you don't act like a fish.

Worst are Kolkata cabbies and Goa autoricks. They're totally unwilling to negotiate. And they are the ONLY autoricks that didn't tell me to come back when I walked away in the middle of a negotiation.

JuliaF

Bhopal has metered autos and the system seems to work fine. We once went out of the city to Islamnagar in an auto, the driver had never been there so lots of fun finding the way but it worked out in the end and he enjoyed the excursion too.

sirensongs

If it does become a poll, why not make it the BEST and WORST drivers? Just to provide the poz with the negative. The good experiences, while too few and far between, are very heartening. My Delhi driver from CP to MajnuKaTilla was fun, didn't speak much English but was playing Sanskrit bhajans. When I demonstrated some knowledge of them we traded slokas all the way to MKT like a singalong at the tops of our lungs. So much fun I gave him a tip and took his photo.

pillimosan

I vote HYDERABAD!!!! Terrific experience.....

Sama

wow, how funny that Chennai wins hands down!

of course, my experience is really only with Chennai, and it helps to have a specific driver you can call (and if anyone wants the number of a GOOD and HONEST rickshaw driver, PM me!).

as for the times I have used other drivers (which has been a lot), my only complaint is that they never seem to know their own city. granted, Chennai is a huge city, but come on! If you're in the driving business, then know where some major streets are! and please don't stop and ask 10 different people (for 10 different directions!).

as for not using meters, I just find out what the average rate is from someone in the know for going from A to B, and never back down. I did have the experience tho of a driver asking for more money at my destination because he had to "drive around a lot". He "drove around a lot" because he got LOST THREE TIMES! I told him he'll take what I give him or he'll take nothing at all. guess who won?

Another time another student and I were driving around for 2 hours at night and when we got back to the school, the driver wanted 600 Rs. I did tell the other student before we got in that we should have set a price, but he didn't. Anyway, the driver lets us off, and the guy I was with almost has a heart attack over the 600 Rs, and in fact, almost came to blows with the driver. He gave him 150 Rs, and the workers of our residence threw this driver off the campus, never to return.

Two other students were in a rickshaw accident where the rickshaw rolled over....it was amazing they only came out of it with bruises!

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rangss

Guess what...I was about to post exactly the same thing

15 years of living in Vizag all I can say is that they are indeed CRY BABIES!

Actually they are decent chaps...but whine a lot.

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rangss

Absolutely...plus it is great to talk to them in their staccato "Dakhani"

fromusawithluv

Hi...

I actually had a reply to this thread a few days ago, but it was lost due to un-expected electrical failure.
Anyhow, I’ll do my best to recall what I was about to send...

The worst auto rickshaw drivers have been in Chennai. Mind you, there are a few exceptions, who are truly honest..but that quality has been rare from my experience with them. Yogagal, I'm so happy that you had such a wonderful experience with an auto rickshaw driver in Chennai. Correct me if I’m wrong, but I believe it was your journal through Chennai..where you met this wonderful chap, who offered you lunch at his home with his family? Really sweet!

What I didn't like about the rickshaw drivers in Chennai (in my mind) is their attitude. It was as if they were doing me a favor! First you negotiate a price, forget the meter, and then deal with his unhappiness for taking you anywhere.
Another thing is that the drivers NEVER say that they don't know something or somewhere. I don't mind if they don't know where some place is, as long as they're willing to find out. That’s another subject though...
back to the poll..

I would have to say the BEST rickshaws I’ve found were in Kerala! They were honest (even without meter); they would ask you what you felt was appropriate to give them! I would always give them a lot more than they asked for. I do the same for taxi drivers too.

In Bangalore, the rickshaws would take you where they're were already going They have a nice life there - getting to choose where to go and getting paid for it! One time, I literally had to wait for (45) minutes to find a rickshaw driver to take me to a place that was only (30) minutes away walking! Imagine!

Taxis? hmmph.. I wanted to bring up this experience hearing some of your tales with arguing about the money at the end. This was one scary experience, which left an emotional scar!

I needed to go to the Commissioner’s Office in central Bangalore for some official work, so I called a city taxi. I spoke to the operator asking her how the fare is priced – by time, distance? I thought within (2) hours, I’d have all of my work done. The driver came finally to pick me up in the posh area of the city. At first glance at “Shiva”, I was a little amused at the way he would keep flicking his oil-slicked hair back from his forehead while listening to Kannada film music on one of the local radio stations. He looked quite serious, so I hesitated to speak more than a few words than I usually do to “strangers.” I forgot to bring my Bisleri, so I requested him to stop over at one of the million shops to purchase a bottle. He ignored my request, and instead asked me to walk a block from the destination to buy one myself! Fine! Anyhow, he took me to the Commissioner of Police Station in a matter of (20) minutes, when it usually takes about (45) minutes! He drove quite fast, for those of you who have traveled in Bangalore with traffic and the un-ending road construction know what I’m talking about! I told him that I’d give him a shout on his cell when I’m done. Ten minutes later, we were on the road again.
I felt so happy that the meeting went off well, and I was done with my official business! I thought I would go “celebrate” at one of the Americanized malls, close to where Shiva picked me up earlier. Again, before I could even finish having a conversation with my relatives telling them I’ve accomplished my task, the taxi made a sudden, complete stop! I looked around, scratching my head, wondering where we were. Shiva told me to get down, as the mall was across the street. Street he said, when it was a busy, (4) lane highway! I told him to please drop me off at the front of the entrance, as that’s the least I expected from his service! I was quite annoyed when he mumbled angrily and frowned upon at this request. In the meantime, I was gathering the money to pay for the fare. Shiva literally shouted, WHERE, when I told him to drop me off at the first of the (2) entrances. I was so relieved to get down finally. I told him that I’m giving him money appropriate for (1 ½) hours. He had a fit, and didn’t want to accept this amount. He requested more money to include a full hour. I flatly refused, saying that I had already arranged how much money to give him with the operator beforehand. I handed the money to him in his hand, told him how I didn’t like his attitude and refused to use his services ever again before closing the vehicle door shut behind me. I never looked back to see him, but I could hear him shouting in anger in the background before he left.
As I walked through the front gates of the mall, I called up my relative to tell her what had happened. Moments later, she called me to inform that Shiva along with a gang of “Goonda” looking men came to the house demanding money! She gave him the money, and told him that I don’t know Bangalore very much nor could she account for my behavior, as she hardly knew me… just to get him off hers and my back! He was sulking, but left with the money. Later one of her "house-helpers" told us that the Goondas, in their own “taxi” vehicles, were watching at the end of the road to see if I’ll return later to the house. Trusting my own instincts, I took a very, very long time before returning there….arhm..in a rickshaw this time. I felt so miserable for putting her family in “danger”! All for Rs. 50??? Not worth it I say! Never again, will I argue for a few more rupees.

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bijapuri

City Taxi has a pretty good rep, so it's worth lodging a comlaint with them.

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jyotirmoy

fromusawithlove,
I am very surprised & alarmed reading your account & that too in Bangalore. I always thought Bangalore to be a cool place. You had been lucky. Instances of violence had been reported in Delhi too but what happened in your case is really too much. And yes for personal safety trying to fight over a few bucks with a hostile guy is no good.

Nick-H

Good Grief!

But no, it is just not worth arguing over a few rupees.

However, nor does one have to stand there listening to the disatisfied driver! Just walk away!

There are times, such as having got stuck in traffic, having taken a route of my own choosing that turned out to be longer, or just finding that it was much further than I thought or remembered, that the driver is entitled to ask for more, and I'm happy to pay it. A bargain is a bargain, but...

My favourite conversations go like this....

Me: "Abhiramapuram"
Driver: "Do you know where it is?"
Me: "yes. I live there"
Driver: "OK, 30 Rs"

and this one seems to happen quite regularly....

Me: "Some Place"
Driver: "80Rs"
<There follows an extended negotiation in which the price is reduced to 60 or 50>
Driver: "Where is it? How do I get there?"

I've had a free lift home with a local driver heading back to the stand; I've had lost stuff returned; I've had drivers act as interpretors for me. They are not all bad

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jyotirmoy

Yes they are not all that bad but they are few... there is one autowallah whom I have noticed on several occassions.... he offers 10% discoint to school kids & senior citizens... allows the passanger to use his cell phone & pay the exact call charges... keeps one Hindi & one English newspaper.

fromusawithluv

I agree with you...NOT all of 'em are bad...

bijapuri, yep we sure did..to the operator. They never came back to the house after that day, and we had the police numbers/people handy just in case. We felt there would be further repercussions if we had initially filed a police report. Just heard too many horror stories about it!

jyotirmoy, Bangalore is still a cool place for me. And, I will definitely use taxi again too. I'm just a bit more cautious now.

That's happened to me too!!