I am walking to the grocery store for my weekly food haul, lost in thought while imagining my next experiments and debating whether I should pick up some new honey to feed my hoverflies. Suddenly, a loud honk from behind me makes me jump. A large bus proceeds to rush past me, leaving just a couple of inches between my feet and its wheels! Just as I step out of the line of fire, a motorcycle whizzes past me and I almost fall into a roadside ditch as I try to escape. I leap up before the street dogs start approaching me.
Getting around in India can be quite hazardous. According to The Washington Post, India has the highest number of traffic-related deaths worldwide. However, with sufficient alertness and experience, traveling on Indian roads can become more manageable and even provide an adventurous window into the sights and smells of bustling Indian street life.
By foot, car, motorcycle, bicycle, bus, train, boat... if a mode of transportation exists, Indians are sure to use it! One of the most common vehicles on the road is the auto-rickshaw, or "auto" for short, which is a small, open-air, three-wheel vehicle that passengers can hail from the side of the street. People generally use autos for short-distance travel, perhaps to the local pharmacy or movie theater.
