Spent an hour in Dhaka traffic on the bike today and decided that as chaotic as things can be, the ‘system’ by which everything runs can be summed up in a few lines:
• The car horn and rickshaw bell are the universal languages of the road.
• Might is right. Summed up, as a bike rider I am bottom of the food chain.
• Being white (and therefore being somewhat of a point of fascination for some Bangladeshis) is the only way I can even slightly circumvent the above rule. One driver almost caused an accident today perfecting the Bangladeshi stare whilst apparently driving.
• Rickshaws can and probably will turn on a dime without any apparent reason. Look out.
• Dodging pedestrians in any part of the road is a legitimate concern. Side of road, middle of road, will-he-cross?, won’t-he-cross?, chicken dance between CNGs and buses, etc.
• There is no such thing as a lane change. If a road is designed for three lanes, five and a half cars PLUS a CNG or two will fit. Can’t hold a space on the road? You’re a pussy.
• Traffic lights are only general recommendations which are mostly ignored.
• Never EVER remove fingers from the brake levers. A horrible head-up-the-backside-of-an-unwashed-rickshaw-wallah accident will be the punishment for disobeying this rule.
• Assuming that anyone will give way at an intersection of any description (or for that matter drive on the correct side of the road) is the definition of “choose your own adventure”.
You have been warned, hope to see you in these here parts sometime soon…
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