I talk often enough about fourwheel vehicles. Or more specifically, taxis. Even more specifically, their drivers. But what about bikes? First off, I still get confused when I hear the word bike. Where I come from, a bike is what children get for Christmas. Yes, what is termed a ‘cycle’ here in Nepal. To me then, a motorised ‘bike’ is a motorbike. And, while on the topic, a scooter is a scooter, not a scooty (however it is spelt). Who came up with that word anyway, it’s hardly an abbreviation worth bothering about?

 

Anyway, back to bikes (of the motor persuasion). They are everywhere. Parked on the pavement, triple parked in designated spots, driving on the pavement, suddenly appearing from narrow lanes not big enough to swing a cat; you know it! But in case you don’t know—bikes are supposed to follow the same rules as cars. That is, not being two abreast so you can chat to your friend. Not four abreast just because you can. And definitely not weaving in and out, and tearing around the wrong side of a vehicle making it a real danger for pedestrians.

 

I still get confused when I hear the word bike. Where I come from, a bike is what children get for Christmas

 

 I realize, monetary constraints aside, the majority of people have bikes as they are easier to handle and faster to navigate through the congestion. That said, what is not on is bikes making the congestion worse by not waiting their turn at a junction and by filling every available gap. Really no one is going any faster if you act in this haphazard manner. A few months ago I wrote about the art of shopping in Nepal. Where the shop keeper serves six people at one time. He gets through the customers equally as quickly on his clock but the least pushy customer may find himself taking five times as long while others are served ahead of him. That’s how it is with bikes. The more bikes that push and squeeze their way to the top of the queue the more time every other vehicle takes to get across the junction. So you Mr Macho get home 30 seconds quicker but the rest of us have to spend another five minutes in the line while 20 bikes sail ahead.

 

 And it’s not just the men. Female bike riders (or ‘scooty’ riders), if not equally as aggressive, are equally as dangerous. Probably more so. Like the college-aged bike riders who are extremely gung-ho with their devilmay- care attitude, female riders seem oblivious to other road users. Is it because they ride less frequently or is it because they feel they have an ‘Equal Right’ to the road? Or is it just because they are more bitchy to other road users, especially female pedestrians? I often get the feeling it is the latter. Because whereas there are a few gentlemen on the road, there are not any gentle-women! There are just hard-core feminists making their point.

 

Getting back to bad road habits— why do cars and bikes heading the same direction across a junction go two different ways? I mean when there is a police box in the middle of the junction or some other obstacle, the traffic streams to both the left and the right. I’m from Britain where we have an excellent system to control the flow of traffic at a junction. A round-about. Similar to those round police boxes in the middle of the chowk, but bigger. Sometimes the size of Maitighar. Or as small as my desk (if it was round). These ensure the flow of traffic runs smoothly, one way around the crossing. Even if you are riding a bike. Imagine— traffic running smoothly and predictably. And we all get home so much sooner!