Whole families travel by bike or commute daily on it. Women are on them in their traditional dresses. I’m always scared that their long veils will get caught in the wheels.
In most cases only the driver wears a helmet -at most-, the passengers usually don’t. Women, small children, infants, they wear no protection at all. Women sit sideways, holding an infant against their body with just one hand. Children are squeezed in between their parents, sleeping.
(Sometimes crazy) cargo and loads of all sorts and measurements are being transported per bike.
Here is a selection of bike pics I took during my months in India:
 |
| Child standing in between parents. |
|
| Scary to see these long fabrics floating freely near the wheels. Many women, like this one, sit sideways without holding on to anything or anyone. |
|
| With a box in between the couple. |
|
| Woman sits loose. She does not hold onto anything, except her child. |
|
| Smallest one in front, other one in between. |
|
| No helmets…. |
|
| Mother with package on the back, daughter with package in the front. |
|
| Passenger sitting backwards in order to hold large objects. Like a speaker box…. |
|
| …or a giant drum… |
|
| The Handyman on the road? |
Bikes are also used by farmers to transport grasses and harvests:
In the cities bikes are everywhere:
|
| With a bike on the bike;-). |
|
| The whole family on one bike. |
|
| Bikes and dogs resting;-) |
|
| Gals on bikes with a child in between. |
|
| Family bike. With a child in front…. |
|
| …oops…make that two children! |
|
| Youngsters…. |
|
| …and seniors… |
|
| Bikes next to horses on the road. |
|
| Gals on the bike with Holi, covered in colored powders. |
|
| Man covered in Holi-powders. |
As I said, moving around on a motorbike in a country like India seems super convenient to me. But it also seems dangerous. The traffic is crazy, the roads are full of potholes, many don’t wear helmets….I wonder how many casualties there are in traffic in India!
Anyway, the bikers themselves don’t seem to worry about that too much or not at all. So I’d better not fret over it either;-).
Personally I’m happy with my car (when in the Netherlands); it gives me a feeling of freedom and independence. When in Singapore, I like the MRT, taxis and walking.
What is your preferred means of transport? Do you love your car? Or do you prefer to move around on foot or by bike(-bike aka pedals)? Scooter? Horse? Tell me!
I was there fvd
I know you were, dear significant other;-).