One thing I have had to deal with during my time here in Beijing has been the awful amount of traffic on the roads. I’m very fortunate that the area I’m in is more or less on the outer areas of Beijing (although still within the 5th Ring Road) the traffic where I am doesn’t get too bad, somewhat comparable to the traffic one would expect in a medium sized city. I also have the luxury of being able to walk to work, within less then 25 minutes, or other means of transportation such as the bus (7 minutes), electric bicycle (10 min), or regular push bike (10 m).
The only real times I have to deal with traffic are my Wednesday morning commutes to Chinese classes in Guomao (the CBD), which take me about 70 minutes via bus, and often spent not moving at all. I’d estimate that for at least 30 minutes of that ride, the bus is stationary. A few of the relaxed bus drivers will even go so far as to turn off the engine when they get closer to the CBD, as we’re often stuck 6 or 7 minutes at a time, and don’t want to waste their gas.
Of course nothing compares to the nightmare that appears to be common place on the highways outside of Beijing on the way to other cities and provinces. Take for example the 30 kilometer traffic jam on the Beijing – Tibet highway;
It was not long before 2,000 vehicles were parked on the road and drivers were praying for a way out.
The previous jam, which started on Aug 14, lasted nine days and trapped thousands of vehicles in a tailback that extended for more than 100 kilometers. That jam was caused by road maintenance work and an exceptionally large number of heavy trucks trying to use the road.
Source: China.org.cn
Ouch. I guess I shouldn’t feel too bad about an extra few minutes on my commute in the mornings? Still, what does one exactly do when they are stuck in a jam like that?
"Who knows when the traffic will move again?" the frustrated driver asked. "I should have prepared some food and drink."
Compared with the anxious Lu, Gao Yunming, a 32-year-old bus driver from Zhangjiakou, appeared much more relaxed, passing time by chatting with other drivers and eating deep-fried buns and meat.
Gao said he left home prepared for the worst and brought instant noodles, buns and drinks.
That’s tough going. I also read that some people, who anticipated the traffic jam, stocked their trucks up with food and drinks just so they could sell it to people stranded on the road at inflated prices. I’m not sure if that’s the right thing to do, but certainly grabbing an opportunity to make a few extra yuan I’m sure.
So next time you’re stuck in a traffic jam back home, spare a thought for the poor soul’s out on the country highways here in China. It reminded of the Dr. Who episode where people were stuck in a massive traffic jam for 30 years!
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