South Mumbai streets are heaven for bikers but roads are hell When I was looking to buy a bike in Mumbai, I was dissuaded by everyone not to buy. I should rather go for a car. The city has too much traffic, etc. By the way I have lived in some of the most chaotic cities to drive like Hyderabad, Kolkata (worst I have seen), Bangalore and Chennai. After travelling in Andheri for couple of days even I was of the opinion that maybe I can't drive it much until night time. But the Bullet classic 500 was here and I had to own it. So here starts my journey as a biker again.
Finally after getting my bike papers on tuesday, I started driving the bike. It has been only a couple of days driving in south mumbai, But believe me it is heaven to drive a bike here. I felt taking a slow local train consumes more time than driving a wheeler. I finished a distance of 20 km in 40 min flat in morning traffic(without going beyond 50-60kmph even on open roads, bike run in). Evening it was coming around 50 mins. Bandra - Nariman Point.
I was thinking how is it possible that even with so much traffic I am able to make good times. This is all due to the fact that there are no Three Wheelers allowed in beyond bandra. Man it makes a hell lot of a difference without them on the streets. Bikes can zip through most of the traffic with ease. On top of it at some of the junctions the signals go green in a sequence so I get like 2-3kms of nonstop drive. The speed of vehicles here is averaging easily 50+ kmph, highest I have seen in the major cities (Have not driven around much in delhi). Make the cities auto free and half the traffic problems will be solved. We need a 4 wheeler replacement for Autos and voila we will have a easily manageable traffic.
But the roads are bad I mean really bad. very uneven. I am surprised to see them in such a bad condition. Even marine drive is sad. Not many potholes but uneven and slippery surfaces make them dangerous for bikers. The chance of skidding is very high. I guess I will have to look a tires which will grip better by the time it rains. Else I am screwed big time. I hope the road conditions improve. |