I have used company
transportation to commute to office during my corporate days in Bangalore for
approximately a decade.
I used my car when I had
to take my parents out, particularly my father. After his attack, way back in
2001, he seemed a little feeble and fragile and so we avoided bus. My mother,
on the other hand, likes long bus rides just like me. Give her a window seat;
she will wear her collar (Spondylitis) and happily enjoy the trip.
For me, my car was just a
temporary need, like my washing machine or the geyser. It bothered me to see
people drive 30 – 40 kms every day to reach office, or when someone needs a car
even to pick grocery or vegetables, though the shop is just 2 - 3 kms away from home and
mostly offer home delivery.
I actually faced real Bangalore traffic when I had to come to office from my village home, after I
moved to the outskirts in 2012. Before that, for ten years my old home was just
3 kms away from my office. It was ridiculous to see dozens of cars near Silk
Board, Hosa Road with just the owner driving and their laptop bag in the side
seat or back seat.
Don’t they seriously realize they are solely responsible for traffic, pollution,
environment hazards and health concerns? When I see many women, use stoles to
cover head and filter the air they breathe using the same stole, it immediately makes me wonder about children who are exposed to this, on a daily basis.
A little inconvenience
in public transport, a little sweat, a little planning to car-pool, a little
waiting for bus or a little early departure from home to reach on time, an occasional bus ride at
least once in a while, can actually create a huge difference.
I lost my father in 2011
and since then I hardly need the car. It still stands majestically, in the
parking space, more as a memory of what I had bought it for in the first place –
to take care of someone.
That age old question beaten to death in multiple forums
still needs attention - Are we not responsible to take care of future
generation?
It is only when most of
us start using public transport will the authorities take into consideration
the potential revenues it can generate and make it better to accommodate more
and build quality standards around public transport.
It was great to read
about Nandan Nilekani, former CEO of Infosys using a bus on 4th March this year – doing his
bit. I immediately subscribed to his website to know more.
I am doing my bit too.
Are you? Will you?
P.S – My car is chauffeur
driven as I cannot drive, which gives me the solace that the few times I take out
my car, some hard working guy is making an extra buck for his family - that is great guilt neutralizer actually:)
