Small cars are the best thing to happen in recent times. This blogger though is n
ot really fascinated about Cars or Bikes, the only thing I was passionate about were Aircrafts (at one point I could identify most of them, even the early fighter planes…flying is amazing). The recent launches of small cars by TATA (Rs one lakh car), Maruthi, Bajaj…has riveted me. Further these days I have been using my two-wheeler quite often, so when stuck in traffic jam I do get ample time to observe models of vehicles. They are getting bigger and intimidating!!. I am all for occupying less of public space. Further cheaper cars are step towards not only social equitability but a step towards public space sharing the benefits were till now accrued by one section of society. The aspirational gap is reducing at a tremendous speed thanks to technology. Small cars are wonderful it will inspire and empower lots of people. M
ost Lower middle class to Middle class people like to move as family unit cheaper cars are therefore welcomed ( I recall when I was around ten we bought a “Lambretta” scooter, I would be sitting on the “stepny”, in between someone would look back to check whether he is still there, it was gr8 fun!!).
ot really fascinated about Cars or Bikes, the only thing I was passionate about were Aircrafts (at one point I could identify most of them, even the early fighter planes…flying is amazing). The recent launches of small cars by TATA (Rs one lakh car), Maruthi, Bajaj…has riveted me. Further these days I have been using my two-wheeler quite often, so when stuck in traffic jam I do get ample time to observe models of vehicles. They are getting bigger and intimidating!!. I am all for occupying less of public space. Further cheaper cars are step towards not only social equitability but a step towards public space sharing the benefits were till now accrued by one section of society. The aspirational gap is reducing at a tremendous speed thanks to technology. Small cars are wonderful it will inspire and empower lots of people. M
ost Lower middle class to Middle class people like to move as family unit cheaper cars are therefore welcomed ( I recall when I was around ten we bought a “Lambretta” scooter, I would be sitting on the “stepny”, in between someone would look back to check whether he is still there, it was gr8 fun!!).With launch of smaller cars people are pointing to the issue of safety (the same were raised when Maruthi was introduced), also people might prefer second hand cars that are quite cheap, since the fuel efficiency of smaller cars is comparable. However the move is innovative and quite brave, and is definitely good for the consumers particularly those families who travel precariously on two-wheelers. This blogger though would have preferred if there was a competition in non fuel cars, battery replication of Carnot looks difficult (also it would be gr8 to have a Formula One kind of race of Non fuel cars. Formula One as it happens now is juvenile indulgence, these events need to be severely taxed. It is a luxury that demands minimum of competence). In last two years atleast 100 trees have been cut in the 5 Kms radius I stay for widening the road, think of what is happening around the country and world. This is not a statement against small cars but questioning the policy on transportation (single person traveling in a SUV or bigger cars during rush hour is a crime).
Then there is
the issue of traffic etiquettes. It is a disaster, people could even kill each other!!. When I was in Delhi I thought of buying a two-wheeler, did some recce on friends bike bap re bap!!….you need two eyes on the back to keep track on Blue lines, invectives are as common. Driving two-wheelers in cities like Delhi is the most dangerous thing to do, it should come in the category of ‘danger sport’!!. Despite the risks involved two-wheelers are efficient way to commute in cities like Bangalore. You can slide through the traffic jams, quite effortlessly. The blogger is looking for more efficient and comfortable two-wheeler, maybe a lock key for 180 wheel rotation. Also some innovations (like pollution screen) in helmets are needed, it is the most neglected Market. 
