Have you used a two wheeler to get around in Bangalore?
No?
Well…, you are much better off without the experience.
Traveling through traffic in Bangalore on a two wheeler is nightmarish, to put it very mildly.
And I’m not talking of the traffic.
People suddenly spit from the window of buses just when you decide to overtake, causing you to swerve dangerously when you see the goo coming. If you don’t see it coming, you’re lucky – it might save your life not to swerve. What’s a little of someone’s vile gunk on you when compared to your life, you just flinch as droplets of it sprinkle on your hands and face.
I’ve had that on me.
And it’s not just from buses. People clear their throat and spit from all kinds of transport – even from posh, swanky cars.
Then there are travel sick women and children puking through the windows of long distance transport.
I’ve had that on me.
If you’re passing under the bridge, next to the posh Windsor Manor, and a train passes over head, you feel the spray on your face…
I’ve had that on me.
But I’m still alive and, after 20 years of riding in Bangalore I’ve made some observations:
- A majority of people in Bangalore do not consider spitting in public places and from moving transport a bad or dirty habit.
- Education makes no difference to their thinking. That’s because many school teachers don’t know and don’t care, and our text books have no mention on good habits.
- Men spit more than women.
- Spitting is not confined to a particular class. The rich, middle class and poor are all doing it.
- Spitting is not confined to any particular community.
- The so called urbane Bangalorian indulges in spitting as much as the villager who is visiting a city for the first time.
- People don’t spit inside their homes as much as they spit out in public.
- People don’t like being told not to spit in public.
- Paan (tobacco) chewing politicians (like Laloo Prasad) set examples that we love to follow. It’s definitely not on any parties agenda to stop the habit of spitting.
- People who chew paan like spitting on walls.
So, can anything be done about this?
Spitting is so deep rooted in the Indian psyche; it’s probably our culture and may take generations to change – if at all. It requires social and political will.
Meanwhile, if you’re riding a bike in Bangalore, please wear a full face helmet, jacket and gloves. It may save you from more than just your life.