Perspective from the Road, Delhi, India - January 2019 - Leslie Abbott

I find riding in this chaos in a tuk-tuk to be a thrill. It’s totally different than U.S. traffic. First, there are very few rules – so it seems like people don’t spend much time getting indignant that things aren’t happening the way they are “supposed” to be. It’s more like… there are a lot of us in the same situation, everyone is trying to get through, sometimes it’s my vehicle and sometimes it’s yours. Second, there are so many bikes, motorcycles, mopeds, rickshaws, and tuk-tuks, and many of the cars and trucks have their windows open – so everyone is mere feet away from other human beings. It’s harder to dehumanize people. And there is less of a sense of private and anonymous space to express road rage. In fact, people actively communicate through facial expressions, hand gestures and verbally. Honking is interpreted more as giving people a heads up that you’re there and less as you’re mad at them because they are doing something wrong. I love the fluidity of it all.

: The tuk-tuk in question. I am with Deepak, who became a driver-tour guide-friend to Ben and me.

: Cute, huh?

: Pedestrians

: Feats of strength

: Monkeys

: Families! See that little one in the middle?

: Roadside stands

: Feats of strength

: Moto-rickshaw action shot!

: Sacred cows

: Feats of strength

: Lots of vehicles encourage honks. The cacophony of honking is motivated by every possible reason!

: Hindu gods inside, Hindu gods outside

: This photo tells such a story! First, four guys on one moped. Second, turning left on front of a bus. Third, the hand motion letting the bus driver know, which seems – nicely – to be all that is needed here to get through.