Green Means Run For Your Life

Today Jason said, “Before visiting China I was scared when busses were driving directly toward me, but now, I don’t even think twice.”

He said this because the friggin’ busses don’t stop for anyone. Not cabs, not people on bikes, not people walking, no one.

And it’s not just the busses, its everyone. There is so much traffic in China cities that anyone will take you out and not think twice. It doesn’t matter if its someone on a bike with a small child on the back or someone walking briskly through a crosswalk; they will run you over if you are not careful.

Yesterday, while in cab the cabbie was driving so recklessly that he squeezed the car into a lane that was technically under construction so that the walking pedestrians had to paste themselves against a temporary wall (the sidewalk was ripped up for construction). The windows were rolled down so as we passed we heard “ohs” and “uhs” as people tried to make themselves skinny and not be hit by the side mirrors of the car.

Today, we hired a car to take us to the Terra Cotta Warrior Museum outside of Xi’An and the driver rear ended a bus. I mean, he really hit the bus. Not hard enough to do damage, but hard enough to be noticed.

Did he apologize? Did he turn around and smile?

No, he pulled in front of the bus and yelled angrily at the bus driver. It was a great moment.

Most intersections have a light so that pedestrians can have a green light to walk. But it doesn’t matter, cars, busses and bikes always seem to bully there way in front of you.

But like Jason, I’m starting to get used to it. Maybe by the time we leave Asia I’ll be outrunning all the vehicles:)