Going to Bangalore for 2 months - survival tips?

[RadioHeAd]

Maybe it's time you read this.

Thanks for that piece of information but i honestly din see many of the autowallahs following that. In fact this is how it happens,
this may not be true but this is my experience of 5 out of the 8-10 rides i have ever taken in bangalore. I mite have been unlucky but i have seen many mumbaiites who'd been to bangalore sharing the same experience. I used to hate the rickshaws in Mumbai till my first ride in one in bangalore

this is how it happens (especially if u don look like a localite and dunno kannada), ur clearly lucky if it doesn
U tell ur destination to the driver and he quotes a price, which unfortunately is on the higher side (forget the meter, its not even an option they give you) even if it is, at times it will also include his charges for returning back too and if u reason with them about that then they have the perfect excuse that ur destination is in an isolated area and wouldn find any passenger there for sure. and no, don bother going to the next available auto. they are very much united. Once u take the ride and u reach the destination they will add another insanely 30-40 bucks claiming that ur house was a bit more in the interiors than he expected it to be. lastly if u don have any change then be ready to make matters worse.

lesson i learnt: borrow a family members/friends car / bike. Bike even better to handle the Choc-a-Block traffic.

 

[thetoxicmind]

Oh, you can manage Bangalore alright! Quit worrying already.

In fact, you should be asking for recommendations and not "survival tips"...

As far as Autoricks go...

They usually charge by the meter, ask for extra in some cases. However, travel at odd times (late night ~ early morning) and you have the 1 1/2 rate to consider. And yeah, most of them understand Hindi.

Word of advice: Be cool, act like a local and blend with the crowd.

Have fun!

 

[blueren]

Auto drivers always target non locals. Tell you what, chuck the auto and move around in a volvo. Those busses stop where ever you want as long as it is in their route. Whats more is that you'd probably have the entire bus for yourself!

 

[agantuk]

I have been to Bangalore a few times, and though not a local, nor aware of the routes that well, I have not had to haggle with them about the fare, since they have used the meter every time. That was one thing I really liked

For folks complaining about autowallahs in various cities, I bet the ones in Chennai can give the ones in the other cities a run for their money These guys [autowallahs] wouldn't trust themselves.

 

[thetoxicmind]

I bet the ones in Chennai can give the ones in the other cities a run for their money These guys [autowallahs] wouldn't trust themselves.

Amen! hyeah:
These guys are outrageous. It would be a miracle if they readily agree to the *actual* fare.

 

[desiibond]

Amen! hyeah:
These guys are outrageous. It would be a miracle if they readily agree to the *actual* fare.

Miracle? I would say impossible there in Chennai.

coming to blr autos. I got fed up of these guys and decided to get a bike. On the bright side, if one autowallah asks extra fare, don't bargain, walk away from him. 3 guys in 5 won't ask extra cash and never ever approach autowallah who parked his auto in autostand. 9 times out of 10 they ask ridiculous fares, sometimes, they ask fare so high that it will be cheaper to book an AC cab!

1) give higher priority to city buses (volvo or Big-10 or Jnnurm) over autos.
2) don't bargain unless you are going to remote place, look for another auto
3) if you draw money from ATM at night, do not take auto near that ATM. walk away bit farther and try for auto.
4) avoid autostands
@OP, Madhavan Park is in Homegowda Nagar, which is a nice place to stay at, greenery everywhere.

 

[greenhorn]

Leave your wallet at home

 

[neoronin]

Figured you'd say that but why is it that i always get lower fares in avg with a non-electronic one

I can think of a very simple hack regadless of meter used to raise price, just use a smaller gear to measure distance. you see the wire connected to meter going downwards ? its attached to a gear lower down that measures the distance. No need to tamper with the meter just substitute the gear and its done.

A gear with 20% fewer teeth = instant 20% raise

Meter rigging is quite rampant and chances of encountering it are higher at night, the only way you can tell is if you do the same distance regularly and can then compare the average, usually when i find its 20-30% over i insist on paying them what i normally pay for the route. Interesting thing is not a single guy argued with me over it

I don't argue with the auto guys. I'll simply ask them to stop and get out of the auto when the meter hits 14:50 a little too fast. After 2 years in the city have become an expert in telling whether a meter is fixed or not. Did you know even Electronic meters are hacked nowadays. The reason why its not rampant is that the hacking seems to cost quite a lot of money. Most of the autowallahs start the conversation in Hindi if you don't look like a local. Don't ask them whether they will come. Just tell the area and get in. And if he doesn't put the meter ask him to stop and get out.

Tip to know when an electronic meter is hacked: When the you hit 14:50 when the meter is at 1.9 Km you know it's messed up. I've seen a different hack where the fare runs upto 1/- within 100 mtrs. If the meter hits 14:50 and then the distance changes to 2.1, then you know the meter isn't hacked.

And Bangalore's one of the most immigrant friendly city. Bad experiences await any one who acts and looks like a noob in any new place. So relax and enjoy your stay.

 

[blr_p]

Thanks for that piece of information but i honestly din see many of the autowallahs following that.

They will never follow it, they want to hustle for the most they can get away with, it's your job to hustle back for the same

In fact this is how it happens,
this may not be true but this is my experience of 5 out of the 8-10 rides i have ever taken in bangalore. I mite have been unlucky but i have seen many mumbaiites who'd been to bangalore sharing the same experience. I used to hate the rickshaws in Mumbai till my first ride in one in bangalore

Yeah, i was kinda expecting things would be better in mumbai simply for the fact you would have a higher cap on number of autos in a much bigger city. Not only that but plenty of taxis as well, how many of those you see in blr ? Not many at all.

Much more competitoin means they are more accomodating.

this is how it happens (especially if u don look like a localite and dunno kannada), ur clearly lucky if it doesn
U tell ur destination to the driver and he quotes a price, which unfortunately is on the higher side (forget the meter, its not even an option they give you)

This depends on how patient or desperate you are. When i'm looking for an auto to take me someplace, i usually ask about 10, first five are like you said, last five there will be one guy thats hungry and will accomodate you. Now whether you can do this or not depends on availability of autos in the first place, if its late at night or not a busy area then he calls the shots. Early in the day is easier than end of the day.

One thing you can do is identify the main arteries that pass through your neighbourhood. The main st. where the shops are is not the best place to catch an auto as there are plenty of ppl there who might be willing to pay more than you are, so they tend to be more picky & difficult. Walk a little further to an artery or busy road and flag one there, usually these types will be very reasonable as they're not expecting business and are the most accomodating i find

even if it is, at times it will also include his charges for returning back too and if u reason with them about that then they have the perfect excuse that ur destination is in an isolated area and wouldn find any passenger there for sure.

This is depends on the area you're going to, if you're going into the city no problem, coming back however is tricky, expect 10-20% on top of the meter.

and no, don bother going to the next available auto. they are very much united. Once u take the ride and u reach the destination they will add another insanely 30-40 bucks claiming that ur house was a bit more in the interiors than he expected it to be.

Always insist on going by the meter, if he refuses take another or walk further and catch one there.

lastly if u don have any change then be ready to make matters worse.

Haha, always carry change :lol:

lesson i learnt: borrow a family members/friends car / bike. Bike even better to handle the Choc-a-Block traffic.

Better yet get your own bike or second-hand, nothing beats the freedom of going anywhere anytime.

Do the Bangalore residents have any tips for living in the city?

Buy an EICHER map (the book) for the city

I find ppl are terrible with directions here, you have to know where you are going and possibly how to get there. This map is quite good if not perfect for knowing which roads are one-way or not. This is slowly turining into one-way city

Otherwise your chances of getting ripped off with auto's are 70-30 against you.

 

[desiibond]

Otherwise your chances of getting ripped off with auto's are 70-30 against you.

or just use Google maps or nokia ovi maps

 

[blr_p]

I don't argue with the auto guys. I'll simply ask them to stop and get out of the auto when the meter hits 14:50 a little too fast. Did you know even Electronic meters are hacked nowadays. The reason why its not rampant is that the hacking seems to cost quite a lot of money.

Read the TOI article linked above, its cheap and meter used does not matter as its not even touched.

Don't ask them whether they will come. Just tell the area and get in. And if he doesn't put the meter ask him to stop and get out.

yep.

Tip to know when an electronic meter is hacked: When the you hit 14:50 when the meter is at 1.9 Km you know it's messed up. I've seen a different hack where the fare runs upto 1/- within 100 mtrs. If the meter hits 14:50 and then the distance changes to 2.1, then you know the meter isn't hacked.

If the meter is hacked you will cross Rs.14 faster than otherwise.

There is no way around unless you take the route often and know the avg price.

At certain times of the day, they refuse to do short trips (minimum fare) and it can be quite difficult to find one

 

[blueren]

The guy is coming to b'lore. Not mars!

 

[blr_p]

or just use Google maps or nokia ovi maps

Do they indicate one way streets ?

 

[thetoxicmind]

Miracle? I would say impossible there in Chennai.

Miracles do happen...once in a while.

 

[Lord Nemesis]

Well chances of a non-localite getting ripped by Auto/Taxi in Bangalore is much less than the chances of a localite getting ripped in Delhi. So if you can deal with Auto/Taxi wala's in Delhi, I don't think you would have much problem in Bangalore. At least that was the case when I visited Bangalore last. Not sure if it has changed since.

As for using Hindi/English, I have successfully used Hindi/English on a lot of shop keepers there, so I don't think you would have much problem in that aspect as well in Bangalore unlike in Chennai.

 

[desiibond]

Do they indicate one way streets ?

yes for most roads.

Well chances of a non-localite getting ripped by Auto/Taxi in Bangalore is much less than the chances of a localite getting ripped in Delhi. So if you can deal with Auto/Taxi wala's in Delhi, I don't think you would have much problem in Bangalore. At least that was the case when I visited Bangalore last. Not sure if it has changed since.

As for using Hindi/English, I have successfully used Hindi/English on a lot of shop keepers there, so I don't think you would have much problem in that aspect as well in Bangalore unlike in Chennai.

most of the shopkeepers and autowallahs and speak

kannada
tamil
telugu
malayalam
hindi
english (in a funny way)
Bangalore is a city (maybe only city in India) where the non-local population is more than local population. And it's a place where you can be least worried about regional, language and caste clashes. (unless supreme court gives some ruling against karanakata on river water sharing)

 

[blr_p]

(unless supreme court gives some ruling against karanakata on river water sharing)

I hope we can resolve this issue with the Tamils

Both sides have completely different doctrines, the only way through is with amicable relations.

 

[Lord Nemesis]

most of the shopkeepers and autowallahs and speak

kannada
tamil
telugu
malayalam
hindi
english (in a funny way)

Yeah I know. I have myself used Telugu, Hindi and English there without issues. Language is even less of a problem there for Andhra guys (including myself). Kannada and Telugu are so close that even though I cannot speak in Kannada, I can understand it as well as even able to read it for the most part and the vice versa holds true for Kannada people.

I used Hindi there mostly because I have gotten accustomed to taking in Hindi after being in North India for many years. Even when I go to Hyd, I use Hindi instinctively as compared to telugu. One interesting thing about Hyd is that you have less likely chance of being ripped there by Auto/Taxi if you use Hindi or Hindi-Urdu bash-up thats commonly used there as compared to talking in telugu or english. So if anyone from outside the state is planning to visit Hyd, use Hindi there rather than English.

 

[letmein]

Thanks for the helpful advice everyone.

Will take buses wherever possible. In fact if the office is nearby, I'll even walk.

Bit surprised to hear that Bangalore has no night life. I thought with the pubs and all the city would never sleep. :huh:

 

[salluks]

Yeah I know. I have myself used Telugu, Hindi and English there without issues. Language is even less of a problem there for Andhra guys (including myself). Kannada and Telugu are so close that even though I cannot speak in Kannada, I can understand it as well as even able to read it for the most part and the vice versa holds true for Kannada people.

not quite true, i studied kannada for 10 yrs as first language, i dont know jack about teluugu, i harldy know kannada that well

Bit surprised to hear that Bangalore has no night life. I thought with the pubs and all the city would never sleep. :huh:

bangy has the most number of pubs in India., its a shame that i the govt thinks the only way to stop crimes at night is close down early. tough its harsh, i actually kinda like the rule.. its so empty at night.. very peacful to drive around!