Liuzhou Weather
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Danwei Model Worker Award
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Street Murderers
There have also been many, many accidents involving these monster machines. According to regulations they should be limited to a maximum speed of 20 km/h. In fact they go much faster. They are also virtually silent so you can’t hear them coming up behind you and few people use lights even at night. “It drains the battery too quickly,” they say.Idiots. Just ban the things. As many other cities have already done.
(* Street murderers is a literal translation of the term used in the local newspaper.)
Yeah, it is a problem, but I don't think the problem is that there is no
driving test required for the operation of the scooter. I mean even the
most seasoned taxi driver in Liuzhou, even the bus drivers, don't follow
"traffic regulations"! In my humble opinion the problem is on a much
larger scale, in that there is little enforcement of even the most basic of
traffic rules. Drive on the correct side of the road? You must be
kidding. Turn whenever you want, even if it means cutting someone else off
or endangering the old woman on her bike? It happens every minute of every
day, and the list goes on. Cars and scooters and motorcycles blazing a
path down any crowded sidewalk? Again, every day. Of course the scooters
ARE a problem, I agree. The "silence" is the biggest nuisance, downright
dangerous. I have seen many accidents firsthand (and not once had my
camera handy). I've told you before I always think of you and chuckle when
I get on my scooter to head out because I know how you feel about the
contraptions, having read about it on this very blog even before I came to
China. I can not remember if I told you the last time I saw you, about my
scooter being stolen or not but yeah it was and even in that moment of
frustration and disappointment I thought about you and smiled, for a moment
anyway. I think most folks outside of China can't possibly imagine the
traffic here. I could go on and on about this but this is your blog my
friend and not mine! Besides, I have to go to work, on my NEW scooter!