Bus Antics

Travelling around by bus is always a bit of an adventure from the beginning when we wait with the crowds at the stop, to clambering on, getting there safely, and getting off again.

A bus driver approaching a left-hand turn - always a difficult manoevre in China - got over excited when he saw that the lights were about to change against him (traffic lights here have a countdown in seconds so you know when to make that desperate dash). Lucky for him the whole left side of the road was momentarily clear all the way up to the road where he would turn left. So he planted his foot, tore off up the wrong side of the road and spun the bus at speed into the street on the left. Somehow he didn't roll, but realising he was going rather fast he stood on the brake and brought the bus to a screeching halt just around the corner.

An older gentleman, one of the many on the bus who were standing up and clinging desperately to the high handles, was facing the back of the bus and the force of the turn flung him helplessly onto the lap of another passenger. A woman was thrown forwards so that her forehead was pressed hard against the side window, and it took a few moments for her to be able to stand upright again and check whether her head was bleeding because it obviously felt like it should be.

And no one even turned to look. The person who suddenly had a man on their lap did not turn their head. No one looked at the woman who had banged her head, only the smudge on the window paid attention to her plight. No one said anything. Life continued as if nothing had happened.