Watch: US diplomats ditch bullet proof cars for personalised autorickshaws

Leaving behind their bullet-proof vehicles, four US woman diplomats have taken to the streets of Delhi in their "personalised
autorickshaws"

Ann L Mason, Ruth Holmberg, Shareen J Kitterman and Jennifer Bywaters love to go driving by themselves in their black and pink three-wheelers, even for official engagements. These diplomats have taken to the common man's commute not just for fun, but also to set an example.

Speaking to news agency ANI, the diplomats shared their experience of learning how to drive what they called a 'distinct mode of transport'.

"From Detroit to my autorickshaw, I have had a lifelong love of vehicles. Everywhere I have been there's been something special about a vehicle but really none more special, in my opinion, than an autorickshaw. When I was in Pakistan, before coming to India, I was in armoured vehicles and they were big, beautiful vehicles but I would always look out on the street and I would see the autorickshaws going by and I always wanted to be in them. So when I got to India and had the opportunity to buy one, I took it immediately", said diplomat Ann L Mason to ANI.

"For me it was terrifying. Yes, learning to drive the autorickshaw was completely new for me. I had never driven any vehicle with a clutch, never driven a motorcycle only automatic cars, my whole life", she said when asked about how hard was it to learn, maintain an auto and get a license.

Shareen J Kitterman, born in the south Indian state of Karnataka, flaunted her pink autorickshaw with flower magnets and said that she was inspired by a Mexican ambassador who too had an auto with a driver. She has also tied colourful tassels to both sides of her auto and stuck flags of the United States and India near the windshield.

"When I was in planning to come to New Delhi, I had heard about the Mexican Ambassador. Ten years ago, she had an auto and she had a driver. That's when I started thinking about it. When I came here, I saw Ann who had an auto", said Shareen.

Discovering the hustle and bustle of the city, diplomat Ruth Holmberg with her 'black beauty', goes to the market and meets people.

"I enjoy driving the auto very much and I love it when other women see that I am driving it and I like that they see this possibility for them as well. For me, diplomacy is not all that high level. Diplomacy is people meeting people, people getting to know each other, and getting a chance to build relationships and that's what I can do with
the auto. I meet people every day."

"I know the vendors in my area, and I know people in the market ... they are all excited to see me at the market with the auto. They come and introduce themselves and with that, I am able to build that one- on-one relationship and I think that is a very important part of diplomacy", said Ruth Holmberg

Explaining the experience of her journey, Jennifer Bywaters said that she got to see the good side of the people on the road who helped her.

"When I got to be in Delhi, I met Ann and after riding in her auto, I decided that I needed this vehicle too. I get to see the local perspective, more of the humanity. Some of the people helped me since I started driving the autorickshaw and so I saw the
good side of the people in Delhi" said Jennifer.

Accustomed to the riding, she added that the hardest part was navigating around other auto-rickshaws but learning how to drive wasn't difficult.

"Learning wasn't difficult. I am used to driving a clutch so that part was easy and the hardest part of driving in Delhi is navigating around animals, bicycles and other autorickshaws. But I would say that have fun and be brave! Think outside the box and you do not need to do things as they have always been done", she added.

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