Rickshaw Got Smoked

I heard what sounded like a car crash outside my window this morning. I’m on the 9th floor overlooking a major road and intersection. I looked out my window and saw that a rickshaw got smoked in a hit and run. It’s bound to happen. Riding in rickshaws, already I’ve been involved in two incidents where my rickshaw came to a screeching halt to avoid an accident. These streets are chaos, and every man for himself. Most intersections don't have traffic lights, and people pull out into them hoping some one stops. There are always walking people weaving in and out of traffic. Traffic is always trying to bunch up as tight as possible. The traffic and driving manners here make New York look like an army falling into orderly formation. Makes Paris looks like an army with lesser discipline falling into orderly formation.

I don’t think anyone was hurt in the accident. These autorickshaws are three-wheelers. Someone kicked the front wheel back into place, and some guys helped push the rickshaw to the side of the road. The roof tarp had also folded. The rickshaw is gone now, towed or drove away, I don’t know.

I wonder what this rickshaw driver will do now. I’m not sure that these drivers work for companies, although the rickshaws and cabs are licensed by Mumbai and are painted a uniform black with yellow accenting. I get the feeling these dudes own their own rickshaws and it’s the means of their livelihood. I’m saying, I don’t know who could pay to get it fixed. Microcredit loans maybe? The ramming driver didn’t stick around.

I guess these rickshaws are dudes’ only means of livelihood cause I saw so many dudes sleeping in their rickshaws on my early morning Bandra walk.