Scooter-ing Around!

After a year of convincing myself,  I took the leap and rented a scooter for the month! 

Facing Fears

I have always had a fear of riding a two-wheeler.  When my brother announced a few years ago that he had purchased a motorcycle.  I wasted no time in reminding him how dangerous they are.  So, when I arrived in India, and people offered to give me a ride on the back of a scooter I would politely decline and walk or find an Rickshaw.  At some point, I didn’t have a choice, and finally got on the back of a scooter, and held on for dear life. 

Once I was comfortable being the passenger, I started to believe that I was capable of driving myself.   When I spent a few days in Bangalore in May, I had my cousins teach me how to handle a scooter.  Over the course of an hour, I slowly completed a dozen circles inside the neighborhood.

Trial Run

It was time for a trial run! At the end of September, I made the call and went to pick out a scooter.  Of course my first 24 hours were a bit rough. On my way home the first day, I got stuck in a downpour.  Then the next morning, ran out of fuel on my way to work.  However, since then it has been fairly smooth sailing!

Now, after a month of zipping around,  I no longer spend the whole journey anxiously grasping the handles and repeating “I think I can I think I can!”.  I have become adept at getting through slightly overwhelming traffic circles, and ignoring the correct traffic rules.  This week I even drove my first passengers around!