So, what is it about motor scooter riders, anyway?

[randomness]

From the Caribbean to Taiwan, from Thailand to Italy, wherever you see little motor scooters, you see them driven in a manner that can only be described as suicidally reckless, or homicidally insane. Even normally sane drivers are transformed as soon as their hands grab the handlebars of a Piaggio (this often happens in holiday resorts) into *inexperienced* suicidally reckless scooter riders, often with the results you'd expect.

*wham* *crunch* *ow*

I first encountered this alarming phenomenon in Taipei, while stepping off a bus. As I did so, a scooter zoomed by in the 18 inch space between the bottom step of the bus and the curb. I narrowly missed hitching a ride on the scooter by snagging my foot.

dirque says he loves the scooters but all the riders need to die.

It looks like scooter riders go through the following thought process, which I hesitate to dignify with the term "logic": "I'm not a car, so I don't need to obey rules of the road for cars; I'm not a bicycle, so I don't need to obey bicycle rules; I'm certainly not a pedestrian. Therefore, I don't need follow any rules! Besides, I can dodge anything."

So what it is it? The more analytical part of me believes it's because in most places you don't need a licence to register or ride one of these things. Also, in most places where these devices are a significant part of traffic (Thailand, Italy, etc.) most everyone is in a state of denial about traffic laws, so it'd be a stretch to expect a scooter driver to pay them any attention.

The rest of me is just amazed I don't see more dead scooter riders strewn about the roads.

Comments

[dr-memory.livejournal.com]

When mir_nyc and I went to cambodia two years ago, we amused ourselves by trying to be the one to spot the most-laden scooter. The winner, on the second day, was one that was carrying an entire family of four, plus a chicken.

Later that evening, we were nearly run off the road and into an open sewage ditch by one, which I suppose will teach us to scoff.

[faelad.livejournal.com]

One of the reasons that I'm not in a rush to finish restoring my scooter is that I'm a little afraid to ride it around with all of the insane people driving cars. I really not ready to die at the hands of some drunk in a chevy, thanks.

So there will be at least one cautious scooter driver out there. But he's in New Mexico, and not ready to roll quite yet...

[coraline]

(totally unrelated to current topic) i love that icon :)

[r-ness.livejournal.com]

I'm totally with you. In the States all the big SUVs would make me think twice about riding a scooter. They could squash me like a bug without even noticing!

[antoniusrex.livejournal.com]

You know, I think that Disney did a Goofy cartoon based on this phenomenon long ago: Mr. Walker turns into Mr. Wheeler behind the wheel of his vehicle.

I am now glad that they are giving crap to folks on these electric scooters. Because, really, we know where it could go, yesh?

things i saw thurs night

[soap-on-a-rope.livejournal.com]

two women making out while driving a scooter in traffic. yes, even the french jaded as they might be took a ssecond look.

c

Re: things i saw thurs night

[r-ness.livejournal.com]

Now *there's* something I won't expect to see in Cambodia!

[denyse.livejournal.com]

I think the dead scooter riders just get cleaned up quickly. There are some folks at my workplace who have an interest in third world road traffic safety. I'd ask them about scooters, but I'm sure I'd just get the 'people dying in droves thanks to lousy roads/police/safety regulations/driving habits' talk again. :)

[r-ness.livejournal.com]

I know you've probably heard that talk too many times already, but I wonder, are your co-workers approaching the issue from the medical side or the transportation side? I'm guessing medical, but I thought I'd ask.

(I'm a transportation weenie. :) )

[denyse.livejournal.com]

Medical side, ayup.