Why can’t the chick cross the street?

Subway in Pune

Yellow light means hurry up to make the light!

Six kids in a rickshaw

Just try to cross the street

Mom picking up her son from school

The traffic is a nightmare here in Pune, as it is in every city we have been to. Most of the people ride motor skooters or have tiny cars. It is not uncommon to see entire families riding on one bike. The motorized three-wheeled rickshaws beep their horns as they carry passengers to their destinations. It is crazy driving! First of all they ride on the right side of the road. You might not even know this because everyone ignores all rules of the road including which lane to drive in. You ride just inches from the vehicle next to you. And forget walking! Crossing the street is an Olympic event here. No one slows down including the walkers. If you want to cross the street you just walk right into the traffic and weave through to the other side. Traffic comes at you from ten different directions. Throw a cow in the middle of the road, dogs walking down the street and carts carring fruit and you might understand why driving in India is not for the timid and faint of heart.

Tonight, I ventured out by myself for a walk to get something to eat. I managed to get onto a road that led me to a Subway restaurant. I ordered my veggie sub (the works, hold the chili peppers), took the picture, and left. The problem was I had to cross the street to get home. I kept walking down the street but the traffic never stopped. There weren’t any crosswalks or traffic lights. I was in traffic jail! I gave serious thought to hiring a rickshaw to take me across. It was scary but eventually I had to make a break for it. I just closed my eyes and hoped for the best. I decided just to go back to my room and eat, it was too stressful going for a walk.