I was getting breakfast ready for Matthew. I hear a fight coming in very loud and very clear from my kitchen window. The curiosity got the better of me, so I decided to open the patio door to see what the ruckus was all about. I look across the street and spot a woman. She's sitting on the curb, her little scooter is on the ground and the taxi driver is screaming and another scooter is sidelined. Obviously, the taxi driver hit the scooter and is now embroiled in an intense argument with the woman. Screaming, more screaming, some finger pointing and then a crowd starts to appear. Normal, typical day in Shanghai. The people who ride around on the scooters, mopeds and bicycles feel that they don't have to stop for any red lights. They just keep going. It's an incredible sight when you see it happening. I was in a taxi one time when a scooter cut in front of the taxi that had the green light. The taxi came to a screeching halt and the driver of the scooter, turned around and gave the taxi driver a dirty look. Unbelievable! The drivers of the scooters and bicycles, if they see a pedestrian, they will lean on their horns or they will scream "WEI" (which means "Hey") or they won't stop and they will MOW YOU DOWN. I'm not kidding. Vehicles are allowed to make a right on red. Technically (on paper that is), the vehicles are supposed to stop at the cross walk first, see if any oncoming traffic is coming and then proceed. It's not enforced. Pedestrians in the crosswalk, extra bonus points if you can get them to stop dead in their tracks for you. Those who know me, know that I am the ultimate New Yorker. So, when the cars are coming, I tend to be a bit defiant and I will walk in front of the taxi or the car at a snail's pace. The driver will lean on his horn. I just shoot him a death defying look. I know, I am basically playing chicken with a two ton vehicle. I can't help myself.
Today's scene, happened at about 5:40 AM. It's still going on as I am writing this entry. The cops are now involved. The locals are screaming at one another. I am guessing from the scene- the two scooters tried to cut in front of the taxi. The taxi took one out and almost took the other one out. The one who got hit is screaming bloody murder. Her friend who missed getting hit is screaming on her friend's behalf as well. Oh, I guess I should let you know that you can operate an electrical scooter without a drivers license. If you drive a gas powered one, you need a driver's license. Go figure. The two that were sidelined were electric scooters. Meanwhile, there's more screaming. Some shoving and the police are just standing between the two watching. Are you kidding? The police aren't even attempting to stop any of the shoving and screaming. So, why are the police even involved?
Now you know why I refuse to drive in this town. Though I will admit, I can get pretty hot and heavy with my screaming. I am no match with the local Shanghainese. They can scream and they can rant. Mostly done in the local Shanghainese dialect. The minute they figure out I am a foreigner, it's going to be "Pay day to feed the village". I don't know what the process for insurance here is. In the States, you have an accident, you call the police, they come, they complete a report, you submit it to insurance and all is taken care here. Here, I've seen taxi's that have hit bicycles. There's screaming involved, the one who has gotten hit- the bicyclist will demand money. The taxi driver will take out a wad of cash from his wallet and then they're off. When it's two vehicles involved, I've seen the same thing. An exchange of cash and each goes off.
Don't think that'll work for me. I would pull out my license and it clearly states- US citizen. You can just imagine what would be going through people's minds. They would be screaming "Foreigner hit me." I'd have to deal with the sterotype that foreigners have deep pockets and would have to negotiate a fair settlement. No thank you. So, I won't be driving anytime soon in Shanghai. I will stick to the bus, trains, taxi and walking. Thank you very much.
