Cycling in India

After a month of rickshaw drivers ripping me off and a growing feeling of not being able to freely move around, I decided to follow my Dutch instinct and buy a bicycle. For some weeks I have been actively taking part in the Indian traffic. I cycle to the gym, to the supermarket, to the university, to friends and go on occasional sightseeing tours. The busy traffic, heat and pollution sometimes make it not so inviting to take the bike, but the feeling to move around fast in my area whenever and wherever I want to go, makes up for it!

Honking

There is only one thing that can really bother and that is the constant honking. It is no secret that Indians love to use their horns. I am really considering installing one on my bicycle too, just to be a fully respected on the roads. But why am I bothered by it?

I have had many thoughts about honking, especially when I cycled peacefully and someone behind me was honking repeatedly. When one talks about (intercultural) communication, gestures, body language and signals are often forgotten, but of all communication between persons, 80% is non-verbal. Understanding honking in India is therefore important, as people don't refrain from it.

I am raised in a country where using your horn is a last resort. Its function is to tell another car, who usually makes a crazy move, to behave better in traffic or to alert someone who is not paying attention to the traffic lights. For me it has an aggressive connotation, Therefore I feel attacked or offended when someone honks behind me. What did I do wrong?! In India this happens regularly and my initial reaction and feeling is the same as in the Netherlands.

The meaning of honking in India is different however. It is more used as way to indicate your position. As a signal to let the other car or rickshaw know that he is passing. It has no aggressive connotation, unless the honking continues for multiple seconds or half a minute, for example that time when I was stuck in front of a bus when I wanted to cross a traffic jam. So every time I am confronted with someone who honks I have to quickly realise its different meaning, don't be bothered by it and happily continue my journey.

A lot of non-verbal communication is needed here

Who cycles in India!? 

Get a life, get a bike. That is the motto I promoted in Strasbourg with my fellow Euroculture student and Dutchman Gosse. I am a big fan of cycling and think everyone should opt for this healthy and green alternative of the car. My campaign in India is not really kicking off so far though. Like honking, cycling also has a different meaning. There are not many fellow cyclists and those who cycle are either to young to ride a motorcycle or car, they can't afford it or for them cycling is just a recreational thing and only done within the housing society or in nature. People are often surprised when I tell them I cycle here or when they see a tall Dutch guy waiting next to them before the traffic light.

It is my observation, but please prove me wrong, that if you can ride a car or motorcycle, you do it. Cycling is seen as something you do when you can't afford other means, something which is not practical and dangerous and also something that gives you a lower status in the hierarchical Indian society. It is generally spoken not connected with the environment or health. This is a pity. I would love to see all polluting motorcycles and cars being replaced by bikes, but I can also understand it is less practical because of the heat, the distances that need to be covered and the lack of cycling infrastructure.

There is hope though! There are organised bike rides, bike rentals and I have spotted a cycling lane!

An Indian cycling lane!

I will continue to promote riding a bike and make my way on the Indian roads. I know how to deal with the honking, how to drive left and how to claim my place. I was really missing the mobility at first and felt a bit claustrophobic. I would advice anyone who comes to India to get some vehicle to move around, preferably a bike, and start exploring.