Chinese Cab Drivers

On a recent trip to China I took note of the efficiency, insanity, and general experience of what is riding in a cab in a developing country. I've seen videos of Chinese, Thai, and Indian intersections with cab drivers dodging bicyclists and weaving through oncoming traffic to get you to your destination, but actually stepping into a car with one of these guys is quite a treat. Over the 30 or so cab rides I took, I at no time felt like I was in danger just because the drivers are so confident as they merge into the next lane despite there being a car there - they'll move. Here are a few pictures.

Here's a typical intersection in HangZhou. Bikes, Buses, and cars. Look closely and you will see one tiny man directing traffic during rush hour right in the center of the picture.

Here's a close up of the bikes waiting in the same intersection. We saw two major bike accidents and usually the drivers are significantly angrier than the bicyclists since the rule is - The bigger vehicle has the right of way.

This is our cab driver in Shanghai. He would consistently read the newspaper at every intersection and somehow know exactly when the lights turned green. 6th sense maybe?

Here's a video that has been getting quite a few hits with a cab driver going to wrong way. Based on our experience, I'm not in the least bit surprised. Check it out.