06.28.07
Trains, Planes, and Automobiles
Since arriving in India, I’ve ridden on/in a number of vehicles: Planes, taxis, cars, scooters, motorcycles, buses, and most recently, an auto rickshaw. Prior to coming to India, I had never ridden a scooter, motorcycle, or auto rickshaw. Though I religiously wear my seatbelt and bicycle helmet in the US, and though helmet laws are on the horizon in India, I have not worn a seatbelt since arriving in India, and have only worn a helmet on one occasion. People just don’t do those things here. Autorickshaws don’t even have doors. And actually I take that back. I’ve worn seatbelts on planes in India, but not in cars.