It's the ultimate face-off: a race between a popular local form of transport and an Uber cab. Earlier today, two journalists from BBC decided to have a friendly contest among themselves in the form of a race between a auto-rickshaw and an Uber cab in Delhi. Guess who won?
The two contestants took a auto-rickshaw and an Uber cab each to test which form of transport could reach the destination faster. They then proceeded to live-tweet the twists and turns of their journey. Here's how it went.
The upcoming tuk tuk/Uber race is already heating up here in #Delhi. We're en route to the start. pic.twitter.com/k6ElzSQlLF
— BBC Pop Up (@BBCpopup) April 6, 2016
The Uber vs rickshaw race is on! Follow @BBCVikas and @mattdanzico across #Delhi to see which transport is faster. pic.twitter.com/8EjrJd1Plb
— BBC Pop Up (@BBCpopup) April 6, 2016
The Uber cab got off to a flying start, and seemed to overtake the rickshaw in the beginnng.
.@mattdanzico seems to be struggling in his Uber to match my rickshaw. Go tuk tuk! bbcpopup @BBCIndia @BBCIndia pic.twitter.com/L6AVbVcXtz
— Vikas Pandey (@BBCVikas) April 6, 2016
Just started Uber/rickshaw race across #Delhi. My Uber is already driving 2x as fast as the rickshaws on the road! pic.twitter.com/BgSQQgc44a
— Matt Danzico (@mattdanzico) April 6, 2016
However, the rickshaw soon took a wily shortcut to a faster route, while the Uber cab got stuck in Delhi's infamous traffic jams.
My tuk tuk driver took a turn into a narrow lane, saying its a faster route! @mattdanzico - I think tuk tuk is winning this one!
— Vikas Pandey (@BBCVikas) April 6, 2016
So confident just moments ago in the Uber/rickshaw race. But now stuck in traffic and rickshaws weaving past my car! pic.twitter.com/0evyd4Ho4K
— Matt Danzico (@mattdanzico) April 6, 2016
Pedestrians walking past my Uber. @BBCVikas, I'll still beat you! Somehow... Delhi traffic just too much for a car pic.twitter.com/e0659dHkwa
— Matt Danzico (@mattdanzico) April 6, 2016
In the end, it was an easy win for the rickshaw, with the driver's local knowledge easily beating Uber's GPS.
Rickshaw wins! Gulshan, my rickshaw driver, is pleased to beat @mattdanzico and his Uber!@BBCIndia @BBCpopup pic.twitter.com/HoIVuO42WG
— Vikas Pandey (@BBCVikas) April 6, 2016
Congrats @BBCVikas. Your rickshaw won. My car service followed GPS and went to the wrong place. Asking locals 4 help pic.twitter.com/fGtR6DnpLK
— Matt Danzico (@mattdanzico) April 6, 2016
Still lost in this Uber/rickshaw race across #Delhi. The race is over and we're wandering... pic.twitter.com/6ZFYiJGiLP
— Matt Danzico (@mattdanzico) April 6, 2016
Look how I just found! @uber_india we'll get them next time! It's really a test of GPS VS rickshaw driver knowledge. pic.twitter.com/Qa0DbyUeAo
— Matt Danzico (@mattdanzico) April 6, 2016
Even Uber had to concede temporary defeat.
@BBCpopup @mattdanzico we'll try our best to not disappoint you in the next round. @BBCVikas
— Uber India (@Uber_India) April 6, 2016
.@mattdanzico comes back to the rickshaw! Better luck next time! pic.twitter.com/rsHHzEm1Kg
— Vikas Pandey (@BBCVikas) April 6, 2016