In many ways, rikshaws are just like cabs in a big city like Washington, D.C. They’ll try to take the long way or get “lost” so that you end up paying more and they’re way more likely to rip you off if you look like you’re from out of town or out of country. Some cab drivers will even try to get you to pay a flat fee instead of using the meter. A man tried this on me in D.C. one night when we were heading back to campus after going to a club. He nicely suggested we just give him $20 instead of using the meter because he was trying to help us. Ha. I told him to kindly stop trying to screw us, that our trip was not going to cost anywhere near $20 and he should just use the damn meter. How much did our trip end up costing? $12. Told you so, jerk.
Anyways, rikshaw drivers are even more creative in their ways of ripping people off or just generally trying to make your life complicated. First, most of them do not speak English so there’s an automatic barrier. You better know how to properly pronounce where you want to go because otherwise you may be disappointed. I thought I was saying the landmark correctly when I was trying to get to my internship and the rikshaw driver nodded and told me to get in so I was like okay, great - I’m all set. Wrong. He pulled over after a few minutes to ask for directions. Why would you let me get in if you have no idea where I want to go, silly man?! I told the old man on the side of the road where I wanted to go and he didn’t understand me. I showed him the address on my cellphone but he got confused because the screen kept going dark after a few minutes. Finally, I called my interpreter and tried to give the phone to the driver but he gave it to the old man on the side of the road... what? So then the old man tells the driver where to go. The best part? The meter was running the entire time. Then we start driving and he takes a wrong turn which I notice because I take this route every day to go to work. I tell him he’s going the wrong way and he either doesn’t understand me or pretends not to so I call my interpreter again. I force him to take the cellphone this time and he reroutes and finally starts going the right way. It ended up costing me 20 or 30 rupees more than usual.
In the above example, I was a foreign resident getting ripped off. But when I look like a foreign tourist, it’s even worse. I like to go to the café at the Marriott Hotel to do work because it’s really nice, the service is fantastic, and they have real sandwiches, real coffee, and real cheese. All of these things do not exist in your average Indian eatery. Unfortunately, the Marriott in Pune is extremely nice and fancy so if you’re going or coming from the building it is assumed you have money. To be fair, I do have money compared to many Indians but that doesn’t mean you have a right to rip me off. I walked out of the Marriott the other day to catch a rikshaw home and they gave me a flat fee at first: 60 rupees (the ride normally takes 20-30 rupees depending on traffic). I burst out laughing and said no. They started whining, why madam? 60 rupees madam. What price you pay madam? I said 30 rupees. No, madam, 30 rupees not right madam. Well then I will find another rikshaw SIR. I walked away from them, crossed the street and found a rikshaw that would actually use the meter.
Today, on my way to the Marriott I got in a rikshaw and by the time we had reached the top of my street the meter already said 20 rupees. Um, sir... I believe your meter is fast. What? Oops, madam. Sorry, madam. How much? I told him 30 rupees and he agreed so we went along our way. Easy solution, no trouble. On the way back from the Marriott, I got another fast meter. But this time it was electronic instead of the little clicky kind. About halfway home I realized that it was going too fast and I was so tired, I almost didn’t say anything. In the end it came to a little over 30 rupees so I paid the price but was feeling irritated so as I paid him, I said ‘you know your meter is fast, right?’ He looked shocked and offended, no madam! Not fast. Yes, sir. Your meter is going fast. And then I got the best response yet - ‘it is electronic, madam, what can I do?’ Yes, sir... because electronics have a mind of their own.
In the end, the best way I've found to deal with cheating rikshaw drivers is to laugh at them when they try to tell you the wrong price and give them whatever amount you think is reasonable. If they start a fight with you, then gain the support of bystanders and you'll probably win if he really is being unreasonable. You may occasionally have to just pay more and be more careful in the future.
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