The Small One on the Left
So I decided that I had better try and add something so that this doesn't look like a one sided effort. I am the small one on the left of the photo that my flatmate was talking about. You can call me Mouse, but I do sometimes respond to Rebecca. I have been here for 3 years and two months. It was never intended to be that long - but it has worked out well so far. To my friends who so kindly placed bets on how long I would last here (I think I was given 6 moths at the longest ) ... I showed you. And so - on with the show..............
Todays topic of conversation is "Taiwanese Driving".
I know that a lot of kiwis like to complain about Asian drivers. I was one of them before I left. The whole parking in the middle of the road, either driving way to fast or way to slow, having the biggest and nicest cars around. The move from Asia to NZ is a pretty easy one - have you seen how much space we have on our roads in NZ? So the real test is to try driving on their home turf and see how well you do. There are few simple rules for driving in Taiwan (although I am quite sure that they would work just as well in other Asian countries too).
1. Stopping at red lights is optional.
It doesn't matter how big the intersection is (it just matters if there are police stationed at it). If you are on a scooter this is a little more difficult to follow than if say you are in a huge truck or bus. However, so long as the light as only just turned red - you still have a chance to weave in and out of the traffic coming at you from the side. Toot your horn and away you go.
2. There is no such thing as a pedestrian crossing.
Sure we have the little green man showing us when we can walk, and even counting down how long we have. That doesn't mean that anybody driving anything is EVER going to stop for you.
3. Fast or Slow - it is up to you.
While there are speed limit signs posted on some roads, driving speed is some what of a personal
decision. I know that it is hard juggling your two cellphones, the dog, 2 kids, the in-car DVD player, and wear your high-heeled shoes - who am I to ask that you drive at anything that is close to a safe speed? The taxi drivers and the blue trucks (kinda of like a ute in NZ) are the ones you have to watch out for. They have two speeds - 'stopped' and 'blur in the rear view mirror, what the hell is that, where did he go?'. However the speedo on my scooter doesn't even work - so I have no right to tell you how fast to drive.
4. Parking - Anywhere you can get a space.
Taiwan is not very big - about the size of Southland I have been told. Thus, it stands to reason that there is not so much room to park the family car(s). With parking spaces in new apartment buildings making up a fifth of the price tag, it's not all that surprising that the local attitude to parking is kinda relaxed. It is more than common to see cars double parked 2 wide on the side of the street. The average street has been widened to accommodate this - the local government is so caring. So the general rule goes - if you put on your hazard lights - you can park where ever you like.
There are of course more rules - but I have to keep a little something in reserve.
Todays topic of conversation is "Taiwanese Driving".
I know that a lot of kiwis like to complain about Asian drivers. I was one of them before I left. The whole parking in the middle of the road, either driving way to fast or way to slow, having the biggest and nicest cars around. The move from Asia to NZ is a pretty easy one - have you seen how much space we have on our roads in NZ? So the real test is to try driving on their home turf and see how well you do. There are few simple rules for driving in Taiwan (although I am quite sure that they would work just as well in other Asian countries too).
1. Stopping at red lights is optional.
It doesn't matter how big the intersection is (it just matters if there are police stationed at it). If you are on a scooter this is a little more difficult to follow than if say you are in a huge truck or bus. However, so long as the light as only just turned red - you still have a chance to weave in and out of the traffic coming at you from the side. Toot your horn and away you go.
2. There is no such thing as a pedestrian crossing.
Sure we have the little green man showing us when we can walk, and even counting down how long we have. That doesn't mean that anybody driving anything is EVER going to stop for you.
3. Fast or Slow - it is up to you.
While there are speed limit signs posted on some roads, driving speed is some what of a personal
decision. I know that it is hard juggling your two cellphones, the dog, 2 kids, the in-car DVD player, and wear your high-heeled shoes - who am I to ask that you drive at anything that is close to a safe speed? The taxi drivers and the blue trucks (kinda of like a ute in NZ) are the ones you have to watch out for. They have two speeds - 'stopped' and 'blur in the rear view mirror, what the hell is that, where did he go?'. However the speedo on my scooter doesn't even work - so I have no right to tell you how fast to drive.
4. Parking - Anywhere you can get a space.
Taiwan is not very big - about the size of Southland I have been told. Thus, it stands to reason that there is not so much room to park the family car(s). With parking spaces in new apartment buildings making up a fifth of the price tag, it's not all that surprising that the local attitude to parking is kinda relaxed. It is more than common to see cars double parked 2 wide on the side of the street. The average street has been widened to accommodate this - the local government is so caring. So the general rule goes - if you put on your hazard lights - you can park where ever you like.
There are of course more rules - but I have to keep a little something in reserve.
posted by Kiwi at 2:26 AM
7 Comments:
Allo SOoTL - nice to see you've finally pulled finger and started blogging. You might even be halfway decent at it ;-)
But 'harrumph' that you refused to do it on mine! Fine, be like that - i can take a hint...[stomps off huffily]
Stop being a slackarse and do more blogging - one post doesn't count as a blog.
Interesting site. Useful information. Bookmarked.
»
Nice idea with this site its better than most of the rubbish I come across.
»
I love your website. It has a lot of great pictures and is very informative.
»
Your are Nice. And so is your site! Maybe you need some more pictures. Will return in the near future.
»
Great site lots of usefull infomation here.
»
Post a Comment
<< Home