How to Be a Pedestrian in Beijing, China

The people in Beijing travel by foot, bicycle, public transportation, and automobile. In this regard Beijing is not much different from any other city; however, it is said that each day another one-thousand new cars are registered. And that means a thousand new drivers. The traffic is horrendous. The law appears to favor whoever has the most nerve or is the most aggressive, this is certainly not a place for the timid.

Bicycles make up the majority of the street's traffic. Bicycles are used for everything from transportation to any type of commerce you can imagine. One day we saw a bicycle loaded with six sheets of 5/8 inch four by eight plywood. This bike was pedaled by a woman with a man pedaling another bike close behind to hold up one corner of the load. You think you have bad days at work. Next time think of her. I lingered by that lumber yard just to watch what else they were loading onto the bicycles and left after ten bags of cement were pedaled away.

Bricks, produce, chickens, cast-iron drain pipes, junk, garbage, inflated balloons, children, you name it and they transport it by bicycle. Bikes do have special lanes to ride in but at intersections it s every wheeled vehicle for itself. The word yield is not in the Chinese dictionary you just keep pedaling, driving or walking but never stop or hesitate because if you do the tiny spot you had occupied will be taken away.

Pedestrians are on their own, and they have no apparent right of way. Some of the intersections are narrow and can be crossed at a run but then there are the others. Beijing is under construction everywhere you look. The city is rushing into new and modern and along with the buildings are new six to ten lane streets. Count up the lanes of traffic with two ten-lane streets and add in a four bike lanes. Fill every inch of available space with something moving and you now have a mental picture of a modern Beijing intersection.

After a few days I came up with seven rules for crossing the streets in Beijing.

1. Do not look left or right and keep your eyes straight ahead; in other words never make eye contact with anyone or anything.

2. Do glance quickly on a 45-degree angle to your right since traffic turning from the right does not stop on a red.

3. If a vehicle of any sort is speeding toward you hurry to step out in front of it so the driver can either speed up to pass the collision area before striking you or swerve out of your way.

4. Never pause or hesitate once you leave the curb. This could be deadly since a driver expects you to walk in front and will be swerving to where you may be stopping.

5. Don't think you have made it across the street when you pass the car lanes; you must still navigate the bike lane.

6. Bikes carrying a load cannot stop. If they do they will attract a crowd of people to push them, helping them to get started again. Avoid them at all cost.

7. Pray, before, during and after you cross the street. Your first prayer will be for mercy the second for guidance and the third for thanks.

I have used this method for many crossing of Beijing streets and guarantee it will work for you.

Vehicles are not the only concern you will have while walking along the streets of Beijing. Pedestrians will cause a significant headache. In Beijing the people do not know how, or simply will not line up. I was raised in Chicago and cut my teeth on the CTA so clambering for a seat is not new to me. However, in Beijing you do not have to be getting on the bus but simply walking along the street to get caught up in a clambering crowd to get on the bus. The crowd does not just push you but everyone else, young, old, aged, sick, pregnant, with a baby, holding packages, with a cane, it makes no, difference everyone is fair game. It is best never to walk near a bus stop.

Beijing is a fascinating city. It is rich with history and culture and bubbling over with life. Everywhere you look, the city is bursting into the twenty first century, while centuries' old buildings lure you over to take a look. Navigating the streets only enhanced our visit to this great city. The traffic was emblematic to the city itself. Without it there would have been an element missing.