Whether driver or pedestrian, Bangalore traffic not for faint of heart

Picture a stream of traffic that is composed of motorbikes, auto rickshaws, cars, trucks and buses, in the following approximate proportions: In one minute, 70 motorbikes, 35 autorickshaws, 25 cars, 5 trucks, 5 buses and the occasional bicycle will pass a given spot. That's about 130 vehicles passing in one minute at about 30 mph. Many of these vehicles are sounding their horns, a free mode of expression here. At a red light (or equivalent), the traffic stops, in a sense. Basically it all tries to jockey for position. The motorbikes push their way to the front so that they form a vanguard. When the traffic policeman stops cross traffic and lets this clot go free, it all starts up, honking and maneuvering and utterly ignoring the concept of lanes.

And that's at a simple 90-degree intersection where two one-way streets cross. Most of the intersections are doubly, triply or even more complicated. There are some traffic cops, almost no traffic lights, and nothing like a left-turn signal (it would be a right turn here, since they drive on the other side).

Now add pedestrians, who are not only trying to cross the street, but often walking in the street because the sidewalk -- if one exists -- is blocked by construction debris, a beggar, a sleeping dog, a pile of garbage, a cow.

To call it chaos would not be quite fair. It operates fairly well, considering the number of vehicles. I did not see any collisions. Pedestrians, bicycles and other vehicles come that close to being bumped -- but are not.

I have this to say to the entitled cyclists of San Francisco: try riding here for just one hour. Then see how good you have it at home.