It’s hard to imagine 1.25 billion people. That’s about four times the population of the United States, although India is just over one third the size of the U.S. I have been amazed at all the ways people get around the streets of Delhi. The streets are packed with three-wheeled rickshaws(simple autos), tiny electric cars that take four passengers (electric autos), bicycle rickshaws, entire families squeezed onto one small motorcycle, trucks of every size and shape, taxis, buses and even SUVs and Rolls Royces. Most of the passenger cars are small models of Toyotas, Hondas, Hyundais, Suzukis and others.
My Couchsurfing host, Nitin, says a popular car game is to search for a car that does not have a scratch or dent. It’s nearly impossible. He also explained that it can take a few minutes or a few hours to travel the same distance, depending on the traffic.
I’ve tried several of the ways of getting around. They are all cheap and readily available. Riding a rickshaw through the busy streets of Delhi is like being on a carnival ride. The best part is that they can get around quickly and squeeze into spaces that taxis can’t. They can carry two passengers, but I have seen five or six people crammed into one auto rickshaw, often with a random arm or leg sticking out.
