My experience with Auto rickshaws in Bangalore

I might be in a complaining wagon or just cribbing in my blogs. But this one really triggered me to write.

I decided not to take my vehicle to work due to various reasons and the only option was to take an auto ride. My work place is on Airport road, so I started asking auto drivers whether they would come to Airport road, they either did not respond and sped away or gave me look as why the hell am I going there. And I had already asked ten auto drivers, I decided to ask the next auto driver where does he want to go? After asking six more auto drivers the seventh one agreed to come. I really thanked him for agreeing.

May be my experience with them has always been bad. Around a year back, I got out of the auto with lot of luggage and when I had to pay the guy. I left my mobile phone on the seat and to take out money, as soon as I paid him he sped away with the mobile phone. He switched off the phone immediately.

In other countries the cab drivers get in conversation with you and also check if you are doing fine and often greet you with a smile. Aren’t they from the same industry? I don’t see this in this India. They are often ready to take you for a ride. They commonly goof up with the meter so you are always charged more. And take you on the longest ride ever, if you do not know the way to your destination. You can pay the auto driver more if you don’t have change but you can never give them one rupee less. They are very arrogant and also drive rashly on the roads. It’s also not safe for women to travel alone late night in an auto.

I may be banned from entering an Auto for writing a blog like this and an auto may never stop for me anymore. But is there a solution for this? Can I smile at them and converse with them, to change their attitude? I guess that also would be misunderstood.