A Note on Surviving Chengdu Pedestrianism

Have you ever noticed how orderly and linear American drivers are? Perhaps not – perhaps it is just assumed to be normal. Well, let me tell you, of all the countries I’ve been to, never have I seen drivers that are quite as organized and orderly as they are in America. Chinese drivers may take the cake, as it were, in terms of lack of linearity. They are left, right, zig-zag, backwards, squiggly, but never straight. In that vein, now seems like an excellent time to include Rebekah’s very own How-To-Survive guide to being a pedestrian in Chengdu. First, whatever you do, never assume a car will stop for you. This is rarely the case, as Chengdu drivers stop for no one. When crossing the street, as the old adage goes, make sure to look both ways! Otherwise, it may be the death of you. Second, keep in mind that lanes in the street are basically meaningless. If you decide to take a taxi somewhere, this will immediately become apparent. Since Chengdu drivers stop for no obstacle (see above), they tend to drive on the opposite side of the street in order to avoid obstacles rather than (heaven forbid) slow down. So if you see another car coming at you head-on, try not to panic; this is normal. Third, there are people employed by the government that stand at street corners and tell pedestrians when to cross by means of whistle-blowing and flag-waving. Their purpose is to make the cars stop in order to provide safe passage for those on foot. Feel free to ignore them. Everyone else does. Especially the drivers. Fourth, if you happen to be subject to an unfortunate confluence of circumstances and get knocked over (whether on bike or on foot), don’t expect any help from anyone. Unless you’re clearly injured or dead (in which case this is a moot point), people will just stare. The driver will most likely not even talk to you. Just get up, shake it off, and continue on to your final destination. Finally, don’t hesitate to cross the street when it’s technically illegal to do so. Even if cars are coming at you, since the drivers will just go around you (see tip #2). Just keep right on walking. Jaywalking is not an issue. Well, I think that does it. Now if you ever come to China, you will know how to cross the street without getting killed. Hurrah!