Relationship between pedestrians and autos

One of the thing’s I’ve noticed and blogged about is the chaotic traffic here.  The thing I didn’t mention is the respect drivers (auto’s, vespas, and motorcycles) show pedestrians.  If we’re standing on the corner of the busiest street here waiting to cross cars will stop for us.  There doesn’t have to be a cross walk or anything.  These are the drivers that completely ignore road signs and traffic signals and don’t have a clue what the turn signals are for in the car or lanes are on the road.  They’ll be doing 50 kph down a an ally about 6 inches wider than their car but they’ll slow down to walking speed if you are in front of them and patiently drive behind you for 15 minutes until you find a place to get out of their way.  Then they’re off like a bat out of hell until they run into the next pedestrians thirty yards down the alley.  If they ally is wide enough for both of you they’ll fly by but never have I seen one come close to hitting anyone.  Drivers and walkers know the rules and act in concert to avoid disaster.

And the streets are always full of people.  Imagine if you will 320th street in front of the mall with 1500 people randomly wandering around looking at the taco time or red lobster menu and then leasurely walking over to the mall to check out the mongolian grill menu, with car’s on 320th all patiently letting them through.  That’s what it’s like – eh only the restaurants are a bit better than taco time, red lobster or the mongolian grill.