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Highway driving? Based on my observations, there are mainly only two kinds of activities, if you can call them driving, on Indian highways. Cars and trucks moving very slowly on any lane not bothered by all the honking around them but just cruising along and 'professional' drivers who count on those just cruising along and zigzag wherever they can fit the nose of their car to get the adrenalin going. Any changes to this delicate setup can result in fatal collisions.

SAPPORO wrote: ↑Fri Feb 14, 2025 9:25 am
Bangalore is a lost opportunity. Most places I had to go between was only 1-2 kms away and I even ventured to walk it up, but lack of footpaths made it impossible. There are decent footpaths only in areas where celebrities live. Footpaths can also help in reducing the traffic on the road especially the autos and motor bikes, since some might prefer to walk as most things anyone needs are within a walkable distance. I have also seen motor bikers that lack road and civic sense, drive on the footpaths in congested traffic. All in all, walking is quite an adventure

You wouldn't dare to walk in inner city neighbourhoods in US. Heck, you cannot walk in general in most areas of US, unless you are somewhere rural. Even in NYC, you would be scared to walk anything beyond few miles of times square. I am not sure how you got into habit of walking. Americans are not known to walk anywhere. It's more of an European thing.

Returning_Indian wrote: ↑Fri Feb 14, 2025 11:45 am

SAPPORO wrote: ↑Fri Feb 14, 2025 9:25 am
Bangalore is a lost opportunity. Most places I had to go between was only 1-2 kms away and I even ventured to walk it up, but lack of footpaths made it impossible. There are decent footpaths only in areas where celebrities live. Footpaths can also help in reducing the traffic on the road especially the autos and motor bikes, since some might prefer to walk as most things anyone needs are within a walkable distance. I have also seen motor bikers that lack road and civic sense, drive on the footpaths in congested traffic. All in all, walking is quite an adventure

You wouldn't dare to walk in inner city neighbourhoods in US. Heck, you cannot walk in general in most areas of US, unless you are somewhere rural. Even in NYC, you would be scared to walk anything beyond few miles of times square. I am not sure how you got into habit of walking. Americans are not known to walk anywhere. It's more of an European thing.

One can walk most places in New York city- I used to walk 20 minutes daily each way to the port authority bus station (passing thru Times Square) from grand central station, when I used to work there! Chicago is another great walkable city unless it's bitterly cold outside and I still used to walk 15 minutes to the train station from my office to go to the suburbs. You can't compare the worst areas in inner city in the US due to crime to the normal areas in Bangalore where thousands of people congregate on the side of the streets!

SAPPORO wrote: ↑Fri Feb 14, 2025 11:51 am One can walk most places in New York city- I used to walk 20 minutes daily each way to the port authority bus station (passing thru Times Square) from grand central station, when I used to work there! Chicago is another great walkable city unless it's bitterly cold outside and I still used to walk 15 minutes to the train station from my office to go to the suburbs. You can't compare the worst areas in inner city in the US due to crime to the normal areas in Bangalore where thousands of people congregate on the side of the streets!

I am just glad you didn't become one of the stories then. I had totally different experiences and I wouldn't dare to walk in most places in US. It's just inviting early departure to heaven. US is a dangerous place to be out on streets.

Returning_Indian wrote: ↑Fri Feb 14, 2025 11:57 am

SAPPORO wrote: ↑Fri Feb 14, 2025 11:51 am One can walk most places in New York city- I used to walk 20 minutes daily each way to the port authority bus station (passing thru Times Square) from grand central station, when I used to work there! Chicago is another great walkable city unless it's bitterly cold outside and I still used to walk 15 minutes to the train station from my office to go to the suburbs. You can't compare the worst areas in inner city in the US due to crime to the normal areas in Bangalore where thousands of people congregate on the side of the streets!

I am just glad you didn't become one of the stories then. I had totally different experiences and I wouldn't dare to walk in most places in US. It's just inviting early departure to heaven. US is a dangerous place to be out on streets.

Overreaction - can't think of a single Mohalla let alone a city, with grid system, traffic lights at every block with Walk signs and the drivers yielding to pedestrians!

SAPPORO wrote: ↑Fri Feb 14, 2025 12:25 pm
Overreaction - can't think of a single Mohalla let alone a city, with grid system, traffic lights at every block with Walk signs and the drivers yielding to pedestrians!

What's the point of block etc when you are not gonna make it a block. If you walk in US, you will either go back in Ambulance to hospital or a morgue. Then TOI will have one more incident to report about an Indian being shot/murdered. I wouldn't recommend. It's not American culture anyways. It's purely European thing.

I made this mistake of walking in US in my recent trips and boy was I reminded. Homeless everywhere hassling you. There is always a lurker right around the streets waiting to mug you. And this is around tourist areas. If you go outside tourist area, you never see a single soul walking except for criminal element. Walking in suburbs is even more dangerous. A white old lady will call the cops for walking in their neighborhood.

Returning_Indian wrote: ↑Fri Feb 14, 2025 7:12 pm

SAPPORO wrote: ↑Fri Feb 14, 2025 12:25 pm
Overreaction - can't think of a single Mohalla let alone a city, with grid system, traffic lights at every block with Walk signs and the drivers yielding to pedestrians!

What's the point of block etc when you are not gonna make it a block. If you walk in US, you will either go back in Ambulance to hospital or a morgue. Then TOI will have one more incident to report about an Indian being shot/murdered. I wouldn't recommend. It's not American culture anyways. It's purely European thing.

What has culture got to do with it? One can walk faster than the bus moves in NYC and those that hate subways, prefer to walk. Guess you have not met anyone from NJ/Chicago suburbs that works in NYC/Chicago and almost all of them are Indians!
Good try getting back at me for all my 'over-the-top" comments on Amazing India

I think US does have some parts that are really nice to walk and run about - places like NYC, Boulder, Boston, San Frans (only some parts) and few areas in LA (believe me). Yeah, it'd be really nice if US cities adopted European style streets that emphasize walking and public transit but oh well.

It was really unfortunate that Indian city/town planners started adopting American style of car centric planning after the 90s. Long term it'll bite them back.

nodegree wrote: ↑Fri Feb 14, 2025 10:20 pm I think US does have some parts that are really nice to walk and run about - places like NYC, Boulder, Boston, San Frans (only some parts) and few areas in LA (believe me). Yeah, it'd be really nice if US cities adopted European style streets that emphasize walking and public transit but oh well.

It was really unfortunate that Indian city/town planners started adopting American style of car centric planning after the 90s. Long term it'll bite them back.

India is doing what suits for Indians. Nobody in India is walking on streets for anything unless you are poor. Roads are meant for vehicles. For commuting, people either use vehicles, autos, shared autos, bus metros etc For excercise people go to proper parks or gyms and for groc they use food delivery apps or nearby kirana store or simply vehicles. All this walking on street drama is a demand by NRIs who visit for few days even though they hardly ever walk in their adopted countries.
Delhi has really good parks and well maintained. People walk there in huge numbers. Gurgaon has developed differently. It has huge gated societies and that provides ample space for proper walking. New societies have adopted a different design now. Your cars directly enter the basement and areas around tower are free from all the traffic.
I am not sure about Bangalore but I will be surprised if they have not adopted one of these models or even a hybrid providing parks as well as space in gated societies, like Noida.

India has become a hell-hole for people who don't have lot of money.
Temperatures are soaring, roads are a mess, even for good private healthcare- you need contacts of top doctors.

All this is fine for people who have decent money.
- Private driver and decent car.
- top doctors and personal contacts to top doctors.
- fine dining in 5 star hotels (half price of usual dinner in a developed country).

But for middle class, it is a mess.
and poor class- it is literally hell.