Chinese Transportation and Law
Yes, this is a typical scene from a Beijing inner city road. I say 'typical' but this actually looks quite tame compared with reality. As you can see, there is a line of vehicles that are queueing past the traffic lights, including a bus which is stretched right across the pedestrian crossing so that
a) it is impossible to cross and
b) you can't see the pedestrian light anyway.
Not only this but a taxi is illegally trying to muscle in on the queue, but unfortunately ends up static at an angle of 45 degrees to the aforementioned line of traffic.
If you try to cross the road while the pedestrian light is clearly green and the traffic light is screamingly bright red, the bus drivers take offence if you try to cross the road (traffic jam or no traffic jam)...I mean how dare you cross and place your body in their direct and sacred path? There is only one thing thing left to do: lean on the horn and continue driving directly at you and hope that you are quick enough to jump out of the way. I mean, hey, there are six billion other people on the planet, one billion of whom are Chinese, so we can afford to lose a few.
As for the fella on the bike, good luck to him. And good luck to the Chinese government when attempting to clamp down on this behaviour during the 2008 Olympics.
Next up is bus number 000, which is a secret bus that takes you underground where Chinese communist leaders plot their next move against the West.... The bus driver probably forgot to do the numbers, which really spoils the mystery.
By far one of the coolest contraptions I have ever seen. Introducing the err...motor-bicycle, the environmentally-friendly bicycle that has a motor attached to the back of it. If the user gets tired or bored of pedalling they can sit back and enjoy the ride. Perhaps all countries round the world should invest in these.
posted by Louise @ 1:51 am
Louise,
All I can say about roads in China, is that the drivers scare me more than Korea. That is saying a lot.
the bikes with motors are called mopeds and have been around (world-wide) for decades,,, and yes, they are very cool. (esp for inner city short commutes)