Kolkata: The "Indi 500"

From Kolkata Rotary Photos 2010

You've seen the start of an Indy car race haven't you -- where all the cars acccelerate weaving in and out passing, braking, jockeying for position as they hurtle down the road at breakneck speed?

Add constantly honking cars, vehicles travelling in both directions, and you have an idea of the traffic here. There is a hierarchy of vehicles here: small gives way to large, people to bikes, bikes to pushcarsts ,pushcarts to scooters , scooters to 3 wheelers, 3 wheelers to motorbikes , motorbikes to cars, cars to vans, vans to buses, and buses to trucks. Trucks are the king of the road!

They all drive four-abreast on a two-lane road. Sometimes an impatient driver drives in the wrong direction against traffic to his destination. Oooops! Did I mention the cows? Out saunters a cow onto the road. Screeeech! Everything stops for the holy cow ... everything even the king of the road. Drivers patiently wait for the cow to move before the craziness of accelerating, braking, honking, swerving, and near-head-ons continues.

Our driver always gets us to our destination safe and somewhat of sound mind. I am glad he is driving and not me.

Warren Wagstaff
for Team Kolkata 2010

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