I prefer to use public transport. I have been living in Mumbai for the past three years & can afford a two wheeler (I think!) but I have never felt the need to go & buy one. I still manage to get around quite well though. I avoid autorichshaws. My primary mode of transport is the local train & the BEST bus. Just last week I took one of friends on a sight seeing trip of Mumbai. I showed him everything from Siddhivinayak Temple, Haji Ali Dargah, Girgaum Chowpatty, Marine Drive, Gateway of India, Bandstand, Bandra fort to the Inorbit mall. Most of the journey was covered in local trains. Cabs & ricks were taken for short distances once we alighted at the station nearest to the landmark. That too since time was of the essence & I didn’t want to inconvenience my friend too much who apparently has become used to the English way of life.
Following are the positives of public transport (for me, at least)-
1. My lungs breath easier — If I’m in a rick, it feels like I’m breathing from a firehose. Pollution, BTW is a bitch in Mumbai.
2. Less stressful — Driving can be a very stressful activity & I’m thankful that it has been ‘outsourced’ to a professional driver. He takes care of the honking, overtaking & swearing.
3. Cheaper — In these inflationary times where crude costs $145/bbl, it definitely is easier on the wallet
4. Eco-friendly — Mother Nature would be a lot happier if more people took to public transport. Imagine being in a bus, stuck in a traffic jam; Now think what would happen if all the people in the bus were in their own cars on the roads! Traveling by public transport would reduce our carbon footprint. Our posterity would thank us for being austere occasionally.
5. Healthier – Walking (the oldest mode of transport 
) definitely is good for health & also gives me a chance to absorb the streets of Mumbai better.
6. Romantic/Adventurous (occasionally) – In my opinion, Mumbai’s double decker buses are quite romantic & have an old world charm about them. Take a ride in them before they get retired! Hanging out of a local train with only a pole for support and the wind blowing through your hair is definitely thrilling but could be foolish as well (Er, I do it sometimes)
7. On a personal note, I love to cock a snook at autowallahs, who are somewhat of a necessary evil in Mumbai. They have a habit of not agreeing to come just when you need them the most. Definitely the case in Andheri where I live. If it rains, these chaps become real choosy. Same when it’s the rush hour! No harm in making them cool their heels once in a while
Sometimes I’ve arrived late, sometimes an encounter with the unwashed masses in the trains has made me feel violated; but this is something of a personal choice for me – something that I’ve stuck by. I would love to see more of my friends & family use the public mode of transport.
So keep the change ready & hop on!
