THE JAIPUR COMMUTE
The road to Jaipur is a crazy ride-like attraction for tourists but, for Jaipur locals this is their everyday commute.
The traffic on a normal day in Jaipur is crowded, loud, and chaotic.
The streets greet you with a constant chime of vehicle horns.
Devender Singh, Jaipur Tour Guide, says that the roads are always busy and filled with all kinds of vehicles.
'Jaipur has a population of around three and a half million and all of these people need to get to where they are going,' says Devender.
'We are always busy, with cars, motor bikes, and Tuk Tuks on the road at all times, especially in the Old City,' says Devender.
Devender Singh says the vehicle you use is dependent on your family background.
'If they are middle class, preferably use cars.'
'If they are no [sic] middle class then they will use Tuk Tuk or maybe bike,' Devender says.
Devender says the road structures are also very different in Jaipur.
'You see we zig-zag through because we can't follow the lane in the kind of traffic we have,' says Devender.
'If we drive in a line like Australia we would never get anywhere.'
'Our road system is no system; it is organised chaos,' says Devender.
Chetan Singh Rathore, a Jaipur local, says that there are road rules, but they are not practiced.
'We have rules; they are just for the books,' says Chetan.
'We have no speed limit —the traffic is our speed limit.'
'The only rules we follow are the traffic lights and the helmet for motor bikes.'
'But, people find loop holes,' says Chetan.
Shubdha Shekhawat, local Jaipur student, says that the roads in Jaipur can be daunting for tourists and for people that aren't used to them.
'We are so well known for our traffic, and for tourists this is very different,' says Shubdha.
'But, I am used to driving on the roads; we just have to do it.'
'It's part of our everyday life and isn't that strange for us.' says Shubdha.
The culture of the city is clear in even the most mundane action of the day: the commute.
