Unlike a video game, I only have one life. One collision and it could be game over. But driving slow and following the rules confuses the other drivers on the street, making it more dangerous. When you drive in Shanghai, it is full speed ahead. Pausing, letting someone in, being polite, stopping at a red light, is more likely to cause an accident then prevent one. Signs and traffic lights are merely suggestions. Why study, practice and pass a test to earn a driver's license if one can be bought? You don't even need a license for a scooter. Needless to say, it is a concrete jungle out there.
I adore my scooter, purple Vespa knock-off that it is. Luckily I purchased this beauty near the beginning of my first year. After school one day, a group of us went to a hole-in-the-wall scooter store with our friend Jeff who introduced us to PunYo (I will check on his exact name). He eagerly greeted us and proudly hustled us over to the scooter display. Because we were buying multiple scooters, they would be at a better price. Shiny and new, a variety of styles, how were we to choose? I originally wanted a baby blue color but that would have required waiting until the next day so it could be delivered from PunYo's other shop. Compulsive buying and instant gratification are two of my many vices. I had to have a scooter now!
After test-driving a few and deciding on a color: Vanessa silver-grey, Krystle canary yellow, Zach grey and black, and Easter egg purple for me, Jeff discussed the prices with PunYo. Each of us had cup holders and side mirrors attached while we walked to the ATM to extract our cash. 3200 RMB was my bargain price. Compared to the USA, this was cheap! I was thrilled!
Then it started to pour! This was a bit of an issue because I had never ridden a scooter before, rain or shine. PunYo provided us with special raincoats that draped over the front of our handlebars strategically allowing us to steer, turn on our headlights (it was now dark as well), and most importantly they kept us fairly dry. I strapped on my massive white helmet, complete with red communist star on the front and wobbled along in the scooter/bike lane squealing and screaming every time a car zoomed by. Officially we were known as a rough-rider Scooter Gang.
From then on I was scooter-bound. I mapped out routes and only went to restaurants and shops that were close enough for my scooter radius. I quickly learned the tricks of the trade. You can ride down the wrong way on the street or the sidewalk for that matter. Speeding by the police or driving down no-scooter-allowed streets really is ok as long as you wave and smile at the officers trying to tell you to go another way. You can cross traffic, talk on your cell phone, and cut everyone off without once considering switching on your turn signal. What are those extra buttons for anyway? And the most effective technique is constant honking. Honk if someone gets in your way, honk, because you're ticked off, honk, because someone might get in your way, honk, because you're running a red light, honk, to say hello, honk if you see a cute dog (or a dog in hideous clothes) and honk just because you're in China and honking is what they do best.Now the only problem was my dog, Loki. How could he enjoy the benefits of scooter travel. He is already a jet-set pet, so why not scooter-dog too. First I attempted to have Loki ride between my feet like I had seen some locals doing with their dogs, grocery bags, and horrifyingly enough, toddlers. This worked once, then Loki fell off and rolled, quite gracefully I might add, to a stop. I wasn't going very fast, thank goodness, but Loki's perilous journeys would come to a standstill until I could find a safer mode of transport.
Fortunately I discovered a pooch pouch at Taikang Lu market, which resembles a back pack but goes in the front. All the shop had was bright orange which totally clashes with pastel purple, but Loki was finally deemed fit for safe scooter travel. Scooter Barbie and Pom Pom Loki warped to the next level adding a new obstacle of terror - the driver swivel head - people would stop dead in their tracks to stare as we flew past.
The final stage of scooter ownership is Scootershop stardom. PunYo has a poster-sized photo of him with a cheesy grin, his arms wrapped around my friend Shannon and me sitting on two of his scooters plastered on the wall of his store for all to see. I will truly miss the feelings of immortality you can only experience driving a scooter in Shanghai.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
Location:Shanghai
