Last day in Ahmedabad was filled with adrenaline. I cannot believe I waited that long to ride a rickshaw. Riding around in a three-wheeler without doors was like riding a rollercoaster! Auto rickshaw has a small cabin for the driver in the front and a seat for passengers in the back which seats no more than two. They are an important and frequently used mode of transportations all over the state. While riding these rollercoasters can be fear-provoking at times, it is a convenient and quick way of getting around the town. While the designs vary from place to place, generally rickshaws are painted in yellow, green or black color. Some three-wheeler operate on compressed natural gas and others on diesel. I rode a yellow-green rollercoaster and it was fun!

There are various means of local transport in Gujarat. Public transportation is widely utilized in all parts of the state. Buses are vibrant and running, although at times seemed overcrowded with frequent and unplanned stops in the middle of the road. We witnessed many people hop on and off the bus while it was still moving, a practice which seems normal to locals. There are countless taxis in the area which is another popular means of transports. People walking long distances also seemed a common practice, especially in rural areas of Gujarat. Bicycles and scooters are also seen frequently. We often saw families of three or four jammed on one scooter, a rickshaw packed with school children, or individuals hanging on to a moving vehicle while standing. Generally, there are countless creative ways of transportation in Gujarat and locals manage to get to their destination.

Today, under the new development scheme the state attracts more foreign car companies than ever. This was evident while traveling in different regions of Gujarat. New developments and projects are springing up across the state particularly in Ahmedabad, car dealerships are mushrooming in vast numbers, some next to city centers and others next door to slums. Despite the variety of transportation, number of challenges remains. The roads often seemed congested during the rush hour and lack of traffic regulations often poses as a danger to both drivers and pedestrians. Today, there are roads that lead to remote rural areas, however the lane capacity is low and most roads are extremely narrow. Frequent construction was evident in some areas but in other areas poor quality and maintenance remains low and under-funded while there are frequent tolls between towns. While some rural areas have received more roads, there are others that still have poor access.

We managed to travel in a modern van, equipped with air-conditioning and Bollywood music (which we only discovered towards the end of our trip). Our driver, with a good sense of humor took a while to warm up to our group and despite the language barrier and some frightening incidents on the road, we managed to understand each other and stay safe. Every so often, we took a wrong turn because the driver did not seem to be familiar with the area, however thanks to the locals who directed us in the right direction, we always managed to get back on the road and reach our destination. Long rides and bumpy roads were overwhelming at times but a good way to decompress and process gathered information. Riding a rickshaw was by far my favorite mode of transportation in Gujarat!