On two legs and a prayer

The horn, though, would not have helped negotiate a bull that he skirted, but that meant his leg slipped into sludge heaped beside an open manhole. Before long, a bicyclist expectorated betel juice right on to his trouser legs and shoes. Next on the obstacle course was a series of puddles.

The right right

The world's cheapest car, the Nano, rolls out in India this week. Manufacturer Tata Motors says it will change the way Indians drive, for the inauguration places the personal car within the reach of people who once could only dream of owning one. Indeed, the Nano has been marketed as an 'aspiration'--the right of every Indian to a car. No quibble here. There is no question an affordable car is better than an expensive one; or that a small car, being more fuel efficient, is better than a big one.

More bus rides

Dear all, kindly divorce your car

With due respect to god, although not omniscient, we the car-driving and personal vehicle-driven are omnipotent.

Mobility empowers

Automobility enervates, because more cars mean more congestion, less mobility

Motorized, stuck

Transport in Indian cities headed the wrong way: ministry After a gap of 14 years, the Union Ministry of Urban Development commissioned a study on the state of transport in Indian cities. The data showed Indian cities sinking deeper into a spiral of congestion and air pollution--public transport showed a decline across the country as private automobiles replaced non-motorized transport like bicycles.

Space crunch

Left, right

Traffic stress

A study on stress levels among bus drivers in Los Angeles shows association between exposure to peak traffic conditions and on-the-job elevations of urinary catecholamines, stress-related hormones. Traffic congestion lowers perceived control, which in turn can result in stress. Journal of Applied Psychology, 1991 Persons reporting traffic stress had lower health status and more depressive symptoms among urban populations, according to a US study.

Caravan to disaster

Growth in personal vehicles is unsustainable and the cost of congestion too high