I Was Knocked Off My Bike Today

I’d never describe myself as an over-emotional person, but when I was knocked off my bike today it was one thing too many. ⁣

Chinese roads are well built – there’s a place for everyone: a pavement for pedestrians, a lane for bikes & scooters and the main road.⁣

We were riding down the scooter/bike lane less than 1km from our hostel when a scooter with 2 men on overtook me. This guy was an absolute asshole. He overtook, while someone was riding on my other-side (undertaking). This left me sandwiched between 2 scooters! He cut me up very sharply and knocked me off my bike with absolutely no care at all.⁣

I hit the floor. He stopped and no word of a lie; he laughed.⁣

Stew was furious and yelled at him, but that’s like shouting at the deaf with a language barrier. He just rode off. Stew said even the passenger looked disgusted. ⁣

I got myself off the floor and in a very out of character moment I burst into tears. Stew gave me a hug and sorted the bike out.⁣

I sobbed until we reached the hotel, Stew sorted check-in, as I was hoping I’d be able to sneak into our room and sort myself out. The hostel staff were incredibly kind, they saw my bleeding knee and ripped jacket and the woman gave me a hug. I’ve not had a hug from a stranger since England. That made me cry again. She gave me some first aid and promised we’d have a good stay here.⁣

The attitude on the road in China can be very ruthless. It feels like everyone wants to 1-UP each other. There’s definitely a hierarchy: bikes < scooters < cars < buses and trucks. Basically the biggest loudest vehicle goes first. ⁣⁣Everyone does what they want. Cars pull out without looking, and pedestrians step into the road blindly. The scooters follow no rules. It works to an extent, but when it doesn’t the collisions have the potential to be devastating. It’s one thing to operate like this in a city when the driving is quite slow, but what about when busses over take on blind corners using their horn as a warning. It’s ridiculous.⁣⁣China enforces a lot of rules and the police are always around. It’s inexcusable that the roads can be such a chaotic place. [Video is not from today.]