Life of Guangzhou - Traffic in Guangzhou, Developed and Disordered

The physical aspect of transportation is well developed in Guangzhou - including an extensive network of bus lines, a booming metro system (its network and equipment might be the best on Chinese mainland), and well developed expressways, including city rings, and viaducts, for the ever-increasing numbers of cars.

But traffic here is still 'fragile' - when it rains or in rush hours, the city's streets are easily congested - due to limited road space for the overwhelming number of vehicles, place-taking construction sites all year round, some bad plannings, and most importantly, the under-quality practices of drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians.

Many people do not drive or park in the correct or regulated way, including sudden and rude lane change, wrong-direction driving, parking in restricted areas or on narrow roads.

In most cases of collision, the drivers concerned just quarrel and stay put for police at the Ground Zero, leaving their colliding vehicles blocking the lane and making jams.

Buses and heavy trucks are usually driven in comparatively aggressive disorder.

Most pedestrians and cyclists tend to be brave and aggressive enough to cross roads anywhere at will, without notice of where it is and what color the traffic light is. A local veteran driver advises, "When you drive, you best to keep clear of the outside lane beside any partitioning plants belt, especially on the outskirts and in the evening, as some daring pedestrians abruptly dash out to cross the road with little notice, giving you a shock."

Compared with the developed countries, there is not enough respect for codes and driving practices here.

The most prominent difference is that vehicle drivers, the most powerful in the traffic, seldom give way to, or slow down for, pedestrians or cyclists. Normally pedestrians are the weakest in traffic (though many of them conduct themselves wrongly), often being overwhelmed by and having not enough respect for drivers or cyclists. This is the opposite of western practices, so take care here and forget about the western way you are familiar with.

Here you should get used to scrambling and 'active competing', as the transportation resources are limited for so many people - fast and aggressive lane changes in driving, thrust-in for little room ahead in congestion, swarming (not lining) to a bus at crowded bus stops …

In rush hours, taxis are in short supply, and people vie hard for a place ahead to get a vacant taxi, regardless of who comes first. Sometimes when you are waiting beside a parked taxi for its previous passenger to get out and take his turn inside, a late-coming and nicely-dressed Chinese lady might walk straight up and get in on the front seat - in an impolite way.

So take care and be alert and patient with the disordered traffic here.

(By Ronald Li)