Traffic - my view

Rules of traffic in Shanghai:

He who gets there first (and is biggest) has the right of way. Buses almost always win; pedestrians usually lose. Nobody, but nobody, stops for pedestrians unless there’s critical mass. Given the millions of people in Shanghai and the hundreds (thousands?) in any given shopping area at any time of day, critical mass is possible, just not likely. Taxis make U turns in the middle of the street all the time, and the rest of the traffic waits because they have no choice. He got there first. People sometimes cross in the middle of the street – they are either brave or stupid.

Pedestrians are never safe, except possibly in parks. If bicycles and motorbikes aren’t allowed on the road, they take to the sidewalk. A pedestrian street is one on which no buses travel. Barriers are no barrier to vehicle traffic, unless the vehicle is truly too big to squeeze between the posts. Many drivers are willing to try.

Nobody stops before turning right. Conversely, it’s always a good idea to make that left turn before the light turns green so that you’ll beat the oncoming traffic. These folks would be very comfortable in Philadelphia. Bikes and motorcycles only stop when confronted by traffic, but they generally operate so as to survive. Bike critical mass is easier to achieve than pedestrian critical mass. Going through a yellow light is de rigeur. Going through a red light is commonplace, but it depends on whether there's a traffic cop at the intersection, or other extenuating circumstance.

Everybody honks – well, almost everybody. Most bicycles only have bells, but buses honk, cabs honk, motorcycles honk. I've heard some pretty anemic horns on motorbikes. Crossing guards and traffic cops blow piercing whistles, usually right next to your ear. Drivers ignore them. At the entrance to Zhongshan Park there’s a guy who blows a whistle whenever anyone steps on the grass. In the subway, the closing of doors is marked by several ear-splitting electronic shrieks, just so you’ll know to hurry in or out. Did I mention the squealing brakes? Noisy place, this.

Apparently some expats think that honking is rude. A northern European, possibly Dutch or Belgian, writing in the Shanghai Daily, opined that, to the contrary, drivers are only trying to make sure you are aware of their presence. If you want to cross the street, he suggested, just don't let the drivers know that you see them and they will let you pass. I don't think I'll try that one just yet, at least not intentionally.

An article in the Shanghai Daily on August 21 headlined "Plate prices set record" stated that in the monthly auction for the privilege of driving a car in Shanghai the average winning price was above 40,000 yuan, or $5000 US. The city auctioned 6,200 license plates in August, 700 more than in July. The auction is designed to limit the number of new cars on the roads, since cars are acquired much more quickly and easily than roads can be built to accommodate them. However, as more people here can afford to buy cars, they will simply factor in the cost of the license plate and traffic will continue to increase.