Petrolhead Survival - Entry 2
D2.M5.Y19.
To Spiti Mas
Writing Challenge - entry 2
Riding a motorcycle in a place like Delhi is not much more different from walking around the Times Square or an Arabian Souk. Only the speed is slightly different. It is chaos of color, smell, noise, bustle and all sorts of strange and bizarre views which in that moment are neither strange nor bizarre.
In contrast, riding a motorcycle in North American metropoleis (yes, this is spelled correctly) is one of the most dangerous activities I've ever participated in. In Miami, nearly every biker I met knew someone who died on a motorcycle. In Philadelphia, my beloved Guzzi, easily the most beautiful motorcycle designed in this century, has been brutally vandalized. Other unattended bikes may sometimes receive a spontaneous special treatment; If you happen to leave your helmet behind, there is a chance of light drizzle of electrolytes or other high power energy drinks. My most recent experiences of riding in Toronto have really put the fear of god in me. On a typical ride through the city to meet a friend for a coffee, I was nearly killed several times. Those maniacs in Ubers and other professional drivers seem to be on a mission to exterminate all professional cyclists. Ambulances, Fire brigade and the Police use deafening sirens to daze everyone in a five kilometer radius and cause permanent hearing damage to all of their prey and potential victims whom they serve and protect. Pokemon Go players and Instagram workers may be a generation of animals too early for self-driving cars and autonomous traffic and are just about as suicidal as the weekend drivers are dangerous. All of these species of road users are only some of the beasts in the jungles of western culture that are a threat to the life of a motorcycle rider.
In complete absence of rules or order, traffic in India flows organically and it works. Even when there is a holy cow sunbathing in the road, a rider is prepared because there you can always expect to see a holy cow sunbathing in the road. If there happens to be an accident, for example, a rider crashes into a goat, there is no fuss at all. The circus of life goes on. Take note western world: you don't need to shut down the entire highway to treat trauma victims of fender benders caused by crusades of angry suburban commuters. In the west, the overwhelming amount of rules, restrictions and red lights create a psychotic state of perpetual confusion. On one hand, motorists are able to maintain confident comfort in the system to arrive to their destination safely as long as everyone follows the rules of the road. On the other hand, infinite restrictions are drowning the wicked jester of freedom who is gradually becoming more and more hysterical. The resulting behavior of the motorists is erratic movement, manic speeding, neglect, carelessness, furious anger, public endangerment and extreme paranoia; in other words - completely psychotic. This complete and sometimes fatal breakdown of order and structure at the cutting edge of evolution not only proves the second law of thermodynamics but also affects the pedestrian population. Riding around Toronto, it is quite common to see pedestrians, usually elderly, wandering into the traffic completely oblivious of the world around them.
The element of danger has always been one of the factors drawing people to ride but getting on a bike in these metropoleis is becoming increasingly suicidal and bubble wrap is not the answer.
To Spiti Mas
Writing Challenge - entry 2
Riding a motorcycle in a place like Delhi is not much more different from walking around the Times Square or an Arabian Souk. Only the speed is slightly different. It is chaos of color, smell, noise, bustle and all sorts of strange and bizarre views which in that moment are neither strange nor bizarre.
In contrast, riding a motorcycle in North American metropoleis (yes, this is spelled correctly) is one of the most dangerous activities I've ever participated in. In Miami, nearly every biker I met knew someone who died on a motorcycle. In Philadelphia, my beloved Guzzi, easily the most beautiful motorcycle designed in this century, has been brutally vandalized. Other unattended bikes may sometimes receive a spontaneous special treatment; If you happen to leave your helmet behind, there is a chance of light drizzle of electrolytes or other high power energy drinks. My most recent experiences of riding in Toronto have really put the fear of god in me. On a typical ride through the city to meet a friend for a coffee, I was nearly killed several times. Those maniacs in Ubers and other professional drivers seem to be on a mission to exterminate all professional cyclists. Ambulances, Fire brigade and the Police use deafening sirens to daze everyone in a five kilometer radius and cause permanent hearing damage to all of their prey and potential victims whom they serve and protect. Pokemon Go players and Instagram workers may be a generation of animals too early for self-driving cars and autonomous traffic and are just about as suicidal as the weekend drivers are dangerous. All of these species of road users are only some of the beasts in the jungles of western culture that are a threat to the life of a motorcycle rider.
The element of danger has always been one of the factors drawing people to ride but getting on a bike in these metropoleis is becoming increasingly suicidal and bubble wrap is not the answer.
No, it's not :P
ReplyDeleteThe plural of the word is metropolises, although the Latin plural is metropoles, from the Greek metropoleis (μητρoπόλεις).
I hope you don't take my grammar nazi comments as my only feedback.
DeleteI love your writing.
Hmm, I see what you mean about riding in the city.
I agree how stark the difference is between a place where everyone "fends for themselves" and a place where "that fucking guy doesn't know how to drive, doesn't know the rules, etc". An overt reliance on rules and regulations makes people paradoxically too confident and oblivious.
Keep 'em coming! We know very well that beyond voltages my knowledge of just about anything is questionable. If I stand to learn anythin from this exercise, grammar nazism needs to be encouraged.
Delete