Comments on: How to: Ride a Bike in China (Part 2)

By: Joel

Joel — Mon, 23 Aug 2010 09:09:24 +0000

The best way I’ve heard to sum it up (not caring about anyone behind you, right of way, etc.) is to say: “If you’re in the way, you have right-of-way.” And that that your speed, size, and honking can sort of extend the front of your vehicle; for example, a speeding honking dump truck with its lights off at night approaching a red light is already “in the way” before it gets to the intersection.

By: Bee

Bee — Sun, 22 Aug 2010 14:52:08 +0000

Not knowing what “right-of-way” means… that’s beautiful, Bamboo!

Right-of-way is often written into road rules. Like at a crossroads and 2 cars are facing each other. One is turning left, one is going straight. In the west the one going straight has right-of-way. If the left turner goes first, he’s in the wrong – and if there’s an accident, he pays full damages.

In China, it’s “I have right-of-way from anything behind”. If I swerve out and stop, people must go around or avoid an accident. If they don’t, they are in the wrong.

If you swerve out and stop in the west, you are in the wrong for not looking behind you and endangering the traffic flow. Totally opposite (like most things).

By: Apparently things are changing | China Hope Live

Apparently things are changing | China Hope Live — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 03:41:11 +0000

[...] soon as I learned how to survive in Tianjin traffic, which necessarily involves blatantly ignoring traffic laws, the traffic culture started changing. [...]

By: “Smash your bicycle to save it” | China Hope Live

“Smash your bicycle to save it” | China Hope Live — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 19:53:59 +0000

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By: Bamboo

Bamboo — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 06:03:30 +0000

“A sure bet is to follow the locals; let them be you example, and sometimes your shield.”
Interesting,I love this example.I have never gone abroad,so I do not know what is the situation of other countries’ traffic,but one thing is sure,it is different compared with here,in china.

Those in front have right-of-way. In this sentence,may I ask what is the meaning of “right-of-way”?

spawning salmon, From your friend’s view,I think this is also an excellent example,although I have no knowledge of this animal.
Only read half of your article,maybe next time,I will finish it. BTW,your articles are definitely long for me to read,well,on the other hand,I can get more information on your views,I enjoy reading them.

By: James Adams

James Adams — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 03:08:51 +0000

Manhole covers aren’t always missing – sometimes they’re swinging trapdoors.

In 1996 I was up in Shenyang, teaching at Northeastern U., and one of the foreigners who’d lived there for around a decade mentioned that his 10-year-old son stepped on a manhole cover (even though they all knew better) and it dropped him 5ft into knee-deep raw sewage.

All the new manhole covers are the ones cast with a built-in hinge, but the old manhole covers were cast seemingly without taking into account the fact that iron shrinks when cold. The covers might have been snug at a nice straw-gold casting heat, but cold they slip side-to-side, and tip up like nice little trap doors.

If you look in older areas, you might see an old manhole cover with an old bike tire fitted around the edge and then set back in its hole – that’s one that somebody fixed so it wouldn’t drop some little kid into the depths.

I knew better, and I still stepped on one and did a one-legger. It was unpleasant.

Adrian Zenz (was with JHF) knew better (I’d warned him) and he did a one-legger. He was kind of limping for several days.

Most people remember these, and follow the rule:

Don’t step on/bike over/drive over ANY metal cover – road-way or sidewalk.

So when you bike in China, be prepared for people suddenly swerving around a manhole cover that looks perfectly safe – especially if the person is older than 30.

They know better than to go over it, and will think nothing of suddenly swerving in front of you to go around it.

By: Joel

Joel — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 06:03:29 +0000

yeah, but if you knock someone down will they stay lying in the road on purpose just to create sympathy?

By: Canadian Mom

Canadian Mom — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 05:16:59 +0000

enjoyed reading your expert Bike advice. I think i might try it with my car, navigating the middle school parking lot at morning drop off time. Driving conditions sound similar :)

By: Joel

Joel — Sun, 09 Nov 2008 23:20:13 +0000

Thanks, fixed it. Anything about biking I forgot to include? The whole Chinese traffic accident scenario is in Part One.

By: James Adams

James Adams — Sun, 09 Nov 2008 14:20:32 +0000

James Adams here,

At Nankai U. 6 years.
In Tianjin 8 years,
In China 9 years total, so far.

Sorry for the confusion.