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Riding Safe in China - New Rider Guide
Riding Safe in China - New Rider Guide
I've known quite a few new riders who have been hurt in China, some with just cuts and bruises, others more seriously, requiring hospitalization. The following is what I would liked to have told them:
Obviously all riders vary in their skills and experience. New or inexperienced riders especially, thinking of riding in China or even intending to learn how to ride here could seriously consider riding a bicycle or an electric bicycle/scooter extensively for a few months before attempting to ride a motorcycle, to fully appreciate the local road habits. Even experienced riders are well advised to be cautious when adapting to Chinese road conditions. Learning to ride a motorcycle without instruction anywhere in the world is fraught with danger, but in China the risk of potential injury is much greater. Those intending to learn to ride in China or that have limited experience are advised to find a very quiet wide area and learn how to handle the bike effectively, including emergency stops, gear and clutch use, until it becomes natural and leaning the bike until the tires are worn from edge to edge or as much as the peg height will allow. Some reading about advanced motorcycle techniques on the internet or asking more experienced riders for tips or tuition would certainly be useful.
On the Road
Road Hazards - There are many more road hazards in China than western countries, many are obvious, including but limited to objects on the road surface, overloaded trucks, gravel, dirt, drying crops, open man-hole covers, inconsiderate/drunk/incompetent drivers, and so on.
Protection - Adequate protective clothing, at the minimum reasonable quality riding gloves and protective padded jackets, trousers and motorcycle boots or over ankle high boots are needed. Full face helmets are best, if not only to protect face from insects, dust and grit.
Undertaking/Using cycle lanes - Chinese bylaws attempt to force all motorcycles and cycles into the far right hand lanes on most bigger roads. This can improve road safety, if properly marked and divided, however many Chinese drivers will turn right often without signaling or looking, so caution when using these lanes. When outside of, or on the edge of a city, in some circumstances, it may be safer to keep out of the cycle/emergency lane altogether. These days many Chinese cities force buses down these side lanes originally for cycles which can cause havoc if bus passengers do not look properly when they are getting on or off the bus.
Don't follow too closely - Don't follow other riders too closely, remember that any hazards on the roads are specifically each rider's problem, stay back far enough to see road hazards, such as dropped stones/bricks/dirt/holes/trenches/animals/pedestrians etc. Do not rely on the path taken by any other rider or road user.
Generally Chinese road users have no idea of the concept of major/minor roads or right of way, or just completely ignore the concept preferring some kind of system based on vehicle cost or size or perceived personal status, regardless of the law. Being on a major road and traveling at a constant speed in a straight line will not mean other road users will treat your road position with any respect, and may cut you off and try to force you to yield to them even though it is your right of way.
Be Defensive, but also Aggressive - Possibly keep engine revs higher than in western countries to allow better engine braking, and keep front and rear brakes and gears covered at all times so that emergency stops can easily be performed at any time. Be aggressive, don't be afraid to honk, flash lights or rev the engine loudly to alert any other road users to your presence on the road. The Golden rule: Never Assume You've Been Seen. Kernalpanx: '
Quote:
Think that all drivers have tunnel vision do not know how to use a mirror or work a signal'. ...have a exit plan at all times.
Think about using some kind of small helmet camera to record your rides, great evidence of idiotic driving.
The Bike
Many cheap Chinese motorcycles are so poorly manufactured that they can be dangerous, with very poor frame welding and quality control issues including nuts and bolts not being tight enough or very cheap components. Buying new Japanese branded bikes such as Yamaha, Honda and Suzuki that are made in China avoids most of these pitfalls. There are also well made Chinese bikes, so do some research on mychinamoto.com :thumbsup: and don't buy something just because it's cheap or looks good. Lighter weight small capacity bikes up to 250cc are a good choice. Dual-sport bikes are favored as they allow better rider view, handling and durability on many types of road surfaces.
Most bigger bikes, almost all that are unregistered, are of questionable background. Many are a few bikes put together, possibly even of different brands and may have been crashed and repaired, whilst looking good, could have a bent frame, incorrect shocks, forks, or wheel/tire sizes etc, so potentially be dangerous.
Some links....
http://www.mychinamoto.com/forums/sh...lue-Truck-gaah
http://www.mychinamoto.com/forums/sh...me....in-China
http://www.mychinamoto.com/forums/sh...riving-License
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Re: Riding Safe in China - New Rider Guide
thank you for this thread!
this is a very good beginning, now somebody should add all the answers about bike licences, driving licences and a bit of basic laws and MCM has a post which will answer a lot of "newbe`s" questions
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Re: Riding Safe in China - New Rider Guide
A few examples of accidents on Chinese roads involving foreign riders. If you are a new rider have a read, and try to avoid the same thing from happening to you. If you have had an accident and you think that someone else could learn from what happened to you or a friend, put in a reply.
China Accident example 1
A moderately experienced rider was riding in a small city at night. Unknown to them a small truck had dropped a brick in the road. Unluckily, the rider didn't see the brick and hit it at 50k/mh, rider dropped the bike and wasn't wearing much protection other than a helmet, and suffered moderate cuts and bruises.
China Accident example 2
An experienced rider was riding on his side of the road, minding his own business at approximately 80Km/h. An oncoming car swerved to overtake the car in front. The rider presumed he'd been seen but in fact the overtaking driver had not done, which resulted on a near head-on collision, where the rider ended up in a ditch with broken bones and a few weeks in hospital. The police decided that it was the driver's fault. Even though the motorcyclist did not have a Chinese license, this only effected his level of monetary compensation negatively, and got in no trouble of any kind.
China Accident example 3
An experienced rider was riding on a street which had been previously designated as for pedestrians only, but in reality was used by motorized vehicles. It was raining and the surface was very slick on a fake ornamental marble surface that the rider lost the front end at slow speed, and the rider's leg fell down a metal grate designed for an ornamental fountain, needing 8 stitches in their shin. Road surface was so slick that it was almost impossible to even walk on without falling over.
China Accident example 4
An experienced rider was riding through village at 40-50 km/h when a young girl ran out in front of him. Despite his best efforts he could not avoid her and hit her leg, but not severely. Despite the bike and rider being completely legal including insurance, the rider was forced to pay 10,000 yuan by the local police who just saw a money making opportunity.
China Accident example 5
An inexperienced rider wearing minimal protection was riding a curve, closely following his companion at approximately 60 km/h. There was a large pot-hole on the road, the first rider saw it in time, his following companion did not. His front wheel hit the edge of the pot-hole hard. He fell off head first and the bike landed on top of him severely injuring his kneecap, in fact his kneecap almost became detached from his leg entirely requiring one month in hospital.
China Accident example 6
An experienced rider was riding in a city at approximately 50km/h. There were a set of traffic lights, these were flashing amber, indicating that as he was on the major road he had right of way. However a car driver did not see him, or did not understand the concept of minor/major road and did not stop. This resulted in a collision that resulted in moderate damage to the bike and cuts and bruises. Basic costs were covered by the car driver's insurance.
China Accident example 7
An experienced rider was riding a twisty mountain road and having fun on the switchbacks. However immediately around one corner was a huge mound of sand left there for nearby building work. With an oncoming car the rider was forced into the pile of sand resulting in a few bent bike parts, but no injury to the rider.
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Re: Riding Safe in China - New Rider Guide
Quote:
Originally Posted by
ZMC888
A few examples of accidents on Chinese roads involving foreign riders. If you are a new rider have a read, and try to avoid the same thing from happening to you. If you have had an accident and you think that someone else could learn from what happened to you or a friend, put in a reply.
China Accident example 8
A very experienced rider rode through a village on a pretty wide and new, still unpaved road, at around 30-40 km/h. An oncoming motorized three wheeler just cut into his lane to make a left turn. The collision was unavoidable so he crashed into the side of the vehicle. The pillion rider flew across the three wheeler and the rider impacted the drivers access "door" The pillion rider stayed uninjured, while the rider got some stitches on his upper cheek, right at the spot from the local doctor.
Both were wearing full protective gear, what may have saved their lives. The rider had a Chinese motorcycle driving license and the bike was fully legal.
The right foot of the three wheeler's driver was seriously injured by the BMW's brake disk as he was only wearing slippers.
Local authorities ruled that the driver of the three wheeler was 100% responsible since he was drunk, had no license and the vehicle un-registered and no insurance. However, my friends didn't get any compensation, neither for medical treatment nor for the bike, which was seriously damaged.
My friends (rider and passenger) are foreigners, the opponent is Chinese. I did not witness the actual accident because I was a kilometer or so ahead and arrived the scene some minutes after the crash.
http://www.mychinamoto.com/forums/at...8&d=1275183356
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Re: Riding Safe in China - New Rider Guide
Quote:
Originally Posted by
chinabiker
Darn that kind of things makes me mad. Makes me think that the best vehicle in China would be sidecar motorcycle equipped with heavy machinegun. Then only some trigger happy passenger in it would make things perfect. As a matter of fact even I could consider sitting in the sidecar by then zooming at the potential threats :gun_bandana:
EDIT:
http://classiccars.com/PhotoGallery/...thesidecar.jpg
That would do! Then it would just be a matter of asking "so, ye wanna try milking crash compensation $$$ from 'em?"
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Re: Riding Safe in China - New Rider Guide
Here is a good vid of what can happen in more "developed" countries in crossroads as well. For some reason there just is an age verification, I don't understand why because the vid is good educational material about the dangers in the streets. Drive safe and don't forget to check your six among the other things.
http://www.youtube.com/verify_age?ne...%3D-qvXbIenivk
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Re: Riding Safe in China - New Rider Guide
(Potential) China Accident example 9
Riding on a 4 lane road, 2 lanes each way with metal fence in the middle. I am doing 80 in the outside lane, about to overtake a slower car in the inside lane. The car driver suddenly remembers he wants to make a left turn through a gap in the fence and swerves across both lanes without looking. Too late to brake, i swerve left too and aim for the narrowing gap between the car and the fence. I miss the car by what feels like 2cm, but it really could have gone either way.
(Potential) China Accident example 10
Driving slowly, coming up to a red light which has the count-down timer. There are only a few seconds left til green, so you set your speed so that it will turn green just as you are rolling through. There is a big truck stopped at the light, you plan to undertake it as the light turns green. However, hidden by the truck is a bike/ebike/car that has sped through as the light was turning red for them, and is hoping to just make it past before the big truck starts to move. You undertake the truck and just as you reach the front, BAM!
Intersection advice: Never assume that a green light means you have a clear path through. Always slow down at lights to see who may be going through with their eyes closed/texting on their phone/forgot they're on a public road/trying to save petrol by not stopping etc...
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Re: Riding Safe in China - New Rider Guide
Quote:
Originally Posted by
felix
(Potential) China Accident example 10
Driving slowly, coming up to a red light which has the count-down timer. There are only a few seconds left til green, so you set your speed so that it will turn green just as you are rolling through. There is a big truck stopped at the light, you plan to undertake it as the light turns green. However, hidden by the truck is a bike/ebike/car that has sped through as the light was turning red for them, and is hoping to just make it past before the big truck starts to move. You undertake the truck and just as you reach the front, BAM!
Intersection advice: Never assume that a green light means you have a clear path through. Always slow down at lights to see who may be going through with their eyes closed/texting on their phone/forgot they're on a public road/trying to save petrol by not stopping etc...
Jeez, that is how I broke my arm last April. Ass over teakettle after I hit the front brake to avoid an ebike that was trying to shoot through the intersection before the traffic started. Now I always make sure to wait till the other traffic is moving before I enter the intersection. Always have to remember that the other drivers here are insane, no matter how good you are its always best to let them go first so you can see and avoid them.
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Re: Riding Safe in China - New Rider Guide
Local dumbass driving a ute/pickup truck in the compound where I live, cut the corner one morning as he drove in to make a delivery, I was as far to the left of the road inside the compound as I could be 15cm more to the left I'd be riding my bike in the grass. I use a 11 second scan technique... anyway this corner was blind with trees blocking the field of view on the corner. Well fcuk me, there's a ute being driven about a foot away from the edge of the road. BAM, after I'd locked the brakes doing about 30km/h, it was a large eScooter after all. Small graze on my forearm... dude looks shocked... I call my wife or try to, but no answer... eventually she gets the message and appears as do the compound management. The driver is dabbing a tissue against the small 5cm graze on my forearm... dumbass.. you apply pressure to grazes/cuts/blood loss...
Another time, I was riding my big motorscooter a couple of years ago first day of the may holidays, I'd been riding all day in some famous mountain ranges about 60km from where I live. The road up the summit of one mountain was littered with lots of small nose-to-tail accidents that naturally caused the typical frantic dash to pass that ensues such accidents in PRC. Lets all cause a big bottle neck by using all the available road space... If they didn't talk so loud, I'd swear they'd be animals, since animals rely on herd mentality! Anyway me and the scoot I'm think oh yeah it's all good I got past all those crashes without much drama. Rode all day... came down into a nice flat area from a mountain around 4-ish just as the peasants and the like were coming in off the fields etc. I slowed down and used the horn a bit, I was straddling the centreline as I rode through a village when a ute/pickup truck appeared. I was 50m away, the dumbass driving just drove out not even attempting to look left over his shoulder, wife sitting beside him and his kid in the rear seat (yep it was a dual cab), no time for nothing, brake and hang on. BAM hit his front left guard, pssssst from the radiator of my bike and there is all the nice green engine coolant on the road. Long story short, I got to transport my poor scoot home, even though the damage was superficial - having banged the radiator put that idea to bed. Cops came, my wife who was 7 months preg came by ute being driven by a neighbour/friend to help transport the scoot. Insurance people came, agreed I could take the bike back home since it was same province and I was a foreigner (and therefore more likely I could be trusted than a local). The driver was at fault... but the total inconvenience... couple of trips back to sort out the driver paying me... begrudgingly I might add. Chinese people don't give a shiet for anyone else except themselves, their immediate family, their boss and perhaps someone that has some kind of influence over them directly.
always, ALWAYS use the horn... I don't give a shiet what some local law might say/be in a city or town... I use the horns on all my vehicles... all the time... driving/riding past groups of cyclists, ebikes, pedestrians, other road users or potential ones... they get an earful... and I replaced all the horns in my vehicles that are so pathetic... with nice loud ones.. whenever I drive or ride in mountains or villages or towns or whenever there are people etc around it's hit the horn button... sometimes for long periods or just a couple of times... no matter you think someone may have seen you, fcuk em, use the horn to be almost certain. For all those that complain, about the horn use here, get real... come ride or drive with me sometime... a horn is used here as a notification and warning device... to announce, hey I'm here... it's not used in anger the same way as it is often used in developed countries.
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Re: Riding Safe in China - New Rider Guide
question: what is the ideal vehicle to use in China,
answer: a tank, with tracks, gassed and fully loaded. you'll get respect then...
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Re: Riding Safe in China - New Rider Guide
Quote:
Originally Posted by
bikerdoc
.. and I replaced all the horns in my vehicles that are so pathetic... with nice loud ones..
Stebel Nautilus :thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup:
Some panties became brownies as this horn was blown :lol8::lol8::lol8:
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Re: Riding Safe in China - New Rider Guide
Great motorcycle website from Victoria, Australia - Spokes.
It's a cool Flash site which makes it super-user-friendly, and has a great info on Rider Safety, Tips, Info on Protective Clothing (incl. info on European Standards).
Spokes Website: http://www.spokes.com.au/#/home
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Re: Riding Safe in China - New Rider Guide
Thanks Chinabiker for this intersting thread. After having driven 5 years in China on multiple bikes, I can say I am lucky I didnt get more hurt. I felt 2 times with scooters. Those 2 times can be referred to examples 9 and 10!
I am never too careful when I am driving there. Danger can come at anytime and anywhere. Even while driving a car on highway! I already passed by people crossing the highway at night or people cutting the grass and trees who just walks on the left lane.
Drive safe and smart! :thumbsup:
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Re: Riding Safe in China - New Rider Guide
You can add looking out for trucks stopped on the side of the road. The have a habbit of kicking the door wide open, without chekcing. I had a close shave one day. I found out it comes up to the same level as my head.
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Re: Riding Safe in China - New Rider Guide
If the Worst Happens
Preparation
A sticker could be stuck to you helmet or be in your wallet saying who you are and some contact details in Chinese for someone you work with, or work for, or a Chinese relative, and the details of how to contact your countries' Embassy or consulate. Also a large sum of cash could be carried on you ($1000+US).
The Reality of Dealing with Chinese Hospitals
Quote:
Originally Posted by Milton
I feel compelled to point out an often overlooked fact that in China hospitals WILL NOT admit you, even in emergency, unless you first make an estimated prepayment, which may run into thousands of dollars. No money no treatment, simple as that. However, there are technical difficulties to meet this requirement if you were involved in an accident and rendered unconscious. We motorcycle riders are probably closer to this possibility than all other people on the road. I am probably a bit paranoid about this and always bring with me a sticker or note in my wallet to make sure someone can foot the bill for me under any circumstances, conscious or unconscious. Just a reminder: TIC.
The insurance policies in China works by you paying first, then they pay 50-80% (depending on policy) later. This is quite obviously to prevent fraud. The problem is that you need to hand over money for treatment first. Overseas travel insurance may be different in that the Chinese hospital may be able to access funds to cover your treatment at the time you are admitted, the problem is they may not realize this. Carrying a large sum of money maybe 10,000RMB, although not to everyone's taste, and having a risk of theft, certainly means you may be able to get life saving hospital surgery immediately.
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Re: Riding Safe in China - New Rider Guide
Great thread! I've had a few close calls with taxi drivers in Shanghai.
When behind a taxi, look into the car to see if they are carrying passengers. If they are, be careful of a door flying open on the right, when the taxi comes to a stop.
If the taxi is empty, watch for waving would-be passengers on the side. Chances the taxi will suddenly swerve to the side to pick them up.
I've changed my horns and lights to make my bike more audible and visible. I am always flashing my lights and honking my horn and it really does help in city driving.
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Re: Riding Safe in China - New Rider Guide
Agree with all those points. Empty taxis are lethal when they see a potential customer, they never ever look around before swerving.
Although i find them pretty ingnorant, loud horns have saved my arse more than once. I try to use them less, but jam my thumb in there when neccessary. When people hear air horns they think it's a car and are less likely to ignore you.
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Re: Riding Safe in China - New Rider Guide
Quote:
Originally Posted by
felix
Agree with all those points. Empty taxis are lethal when they see a potential customer, they never ever look around before swerving.
Although i find them pretty ingnorant, loud horns have saved my arse more than once. I try to use them less, but jam my thumb in there when neccessary. When people hear air horns they think it's a car and are less likely to ignore you.
Absolutely spot on, though often taxi drivers will even at times stop middle of the road, intersection or almost any place to collect a fare when they are hailed. Recently I've been noticing more crazy overtaking manoeuvre's by oncoming traffic when passing vehicles. Overtaking on blind corner's is the norm, but now seems more people attempting this and also will do so when there are oncoming motorcycles, scooters approaching, forcing riders to take evasive action. Akin to playing 'russian-roulette' I'm approaching the point where my level of frustration is making me think about carrying some eggs to throw at the offending vehicle or a perhaps a baseball bat. At times I imagine a mental missile launcher is attached to the front of my bike or the very least - me wishing there was one. I won't talk to the fact that a couple of vehicles have been seen driving round, mysteriously missing a drivers side, side mirror...
I swear by the loud horn scenario, and all my bikes have been fitted with dual tone, air-horns or electronic air-horns... and good quality ones at that... as I have done with upgrading the light bulbs to something much brighter... and even HID lights in a couple of them. The horns, I use all the time, anything remotely where someone else might invade my road space, gets several blasts of the said air-horns. I 'swear' it has saved my arse, many times over... us foreigners need to get out of the mindset that horns are only used in aggressive actions as they might be elsewhere, here in China it's very different. Horns are an ESSENTIAL warning device that need/must be used aggressively here and are used as such. That's why, when the SH government changed the city by-laws banning the use of horns within the city confines, I shook my head in disbelief. That should only happen after the locals have been well and truly educated about all things road related, the infrastructure has been designed/redesigned with road safety in mind, with better and more efficient and even appropriate road policing, that's not tantamount to be influenced by BS, as is the case today... Oh, no wait a moment... that sounds more like a developed country... opps, my mistake. [sarcasm]
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Re: Riding Safe in China - New Rider Guide
Yes I am beginning to see how cars in Shanghai like to play "Chicken" and bully the bikes to the side. The only thing I can do is flash my high beams at them to annoy them.
Actually I have been thinking about getting these handles for my bike in case there is a close pass-by but it would probably cause too much trouble. ;)
http://item.taobao.com/item.htm?id=7606840596
Actually I use my horn offensively too. When people park or stop on the side I like to pull up right next to their window and blast my horn and pray I make them stain their pants. I helps me vent.
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Re: Riding Safe in China - New Rider Guide
these example I have faced some during my riding, very useful and refreshing.
I generally just stick to relax riding mood, pushing the bike is like pushing the luck. Foresee the danger (& agrressive bastxrds) and don't hesitate using horn!
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Re: Riding Safe in China - New Rider Guide
All people know about china and i also like to this country. If are riding in china then you should follow rules riding otherwise it can make accident. I always read about accident in china because most of people not follow the rules of driving. If you have more detail of china traffic rules then i will like to learn more about it.
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Re: Riding Safe in China - New Rider Guide
[QUOTE=MotoKai;15846]Great motorcycle website from Victoria, Australia - Spokes.
It's a cool Flash site which makes it super-user-friendly, and has a great info on Rider Safety, Tips, Info on Protective Clothing (incl. info on European Standards).
Spokes Website: /QUOTE]
Spokes has updated their website (cooler graphics and more info on Rider Safety).
Also, the Motorcycle Safety Foundation has a great downloadable BASIC RIDER COURSE PDF HERE for new and experienced riders.
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Re: Riding Safe in China - New Rider Guide
OK this story is about railroad safety, not road safety, until you get to the final sobering paragraph. With the riding season upon us, and so many newb drivers behind the wheel mixing it up with aggressive veterans, we in China should be thinking about safety at all times. So I thought it appropriate to bump Motokai's sticky thread.
Be careful out there!
Quote:
April 10, 2013
China’s Former Rail Minister Is Charged With Corruption
By KEITH BRADSHER
HONG KONG — China’s former railways minister, reviled by state-run media and many Chinese bloggers after a deadly high-speed train crash in the summer of 2011 and lurid allegations of high living, has been formally charged with corruption and abuse of power, the state-run Xinhua news agency said on Wednesday.
Xinhua said the Beijing People’s Procuratorate had filed the charges against the railways minister, Liu Zhijun, in a city court. No officials could be reached for comment on Wednesday afternoon in telephone calls to the procuratorate, which is a combined investigation and prosecution office, and to the court.
Mr. Liu was removed from his position in February 2011, five months before the crash, after reports that he had embezzled $152 million over the years. His dismissal fanned emerging worries that the quality and safety of the country’s vast high-speed rail program had been compromised by haste and corruption during construction.
Those worries greatly increased when a high-speed train plowed into the back of another train on a viaduct during a lightning storm in Wenzhou, in east-central China, on July 23, 2011, killing 40 and injuring 191. A subsequent inquiry found that serious flaws in the design of the signaling system had contributed to a failure to warn the trailing train that another train had been delayed in front of it.
The crash fed increasingly heated commentary about Mr. Liu’s lifestyle before his removal from office, despite government efforts to limit the discussion. A leaked directive from the Central Propaganda Bureau ordered all news media “not to report or hype the news that Liu Zhijun had 18 mistresses.”
Mr. Liu has been in detention for many months and could not be reached for comment on Wednesday. Members of the Chinese Communist Party who are accused of crimes sometimes face a harsh detention with few legal protections.
The Wenzhou crash prompted a lengthy national debate in China over the wisdom of the country’s heavy investment in high-speed rail. With the first line opening shortly before the Beijing Olympics in 2008, the country had produced a national network with 5,814 miles of track in service by the end of last year.
But rapid expansion left the Ministry of Railways saddled with debts of nearly $645 billion. The National People’s Congress took steps last month to dismantle the ministry, which previously had a broad range of administrative and even police functions in addition to operating trains.
A recent spate of intercity bus crashes includes at least two with roughly the same number of deaths as the train crash nearly two years ago, but the bus crashes have drawn far less attention. With poorly designed roads, numerous pedestrians and many new drivers, China has a death rate per million registered automobiles that is 6 to 20 times as high as in the United States.
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Re: Riding Safe in China - New Rider Guide
I am aggressive when needed use my horn constantly until they cock their head turn or just swerve. I pass wide and quickly give a safe distance. I look for drivers eyes in mirrors if windows are not tinted. Usually when they notice I am a foreigner they give me safe distance. But once or twice I get an aggressive driver. I mount a go pro and tape my rides. I was a bike messenger in university in New York Berlin London and Toronto ( including winters) ... I thought I had seen it all. For a country that demands high education and academics .... Why so many stupid people. Just saying.
The other thing I noticed is no one knows what a blind spot is.... Wtf!!! I constantly check my blind spot. I also find staying out of the "bike" lane is safer ... Riding aggressively on the left lane and using acceleration to get past the idiots and passing on the left seems to put me in less danger.... I keep and eye out for miss daisy and her 12 lane sudden no look right turn. Knowing your streets and exits and remembering bottle necks seems to be the best type of riding here. Also use the horn!!! As much as possible as a signalling device. Long honks are the least given attention many short bursts seem to get the most notice. Just my thoughts on the whole thing.
Basically driver education is none existent ... Caring for another human being none existent ... Think that all drivers have tunnel vision do not know how to use a mirror or work a signal ....have a exit plan at all times. You should be cool .... Go pro is on my helmet ... They see it and smile and wave a lot or roll up their tinted windows and back off.
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Re: Riding Safe in China - New Rider Guide
That the way to go ???? "GO-PRO" http://gopro.com/ you cant beat it cost from $300 but beleave me it is the best thing to have on your bike and car 1 week ago rideing my bike dick head chinese bike rider 2 up on far right lane just turns left with out looking right in front of me i hit them SQ on nocked the 2 of there bike lady hurt bad ,the man a few cuts and me all ok my bike nocked up a bit ... poilce came loads of friends of the chinese riders was ganging up agains me saying i was riding to fast and that the other riders done fuck all wrong ??? so i say northing at this time looked very bad for me ??? did not tell them about the Gopro on my bike untill my wife turned up and i told her to bring the laptop with her ??? when all the talking was done from the other side the police come up to me and said i am in deep shit ??? asked why and was told that it is all my fault ??? based on the imfore from all the other people around who said i see what happen ??? ok can i shown you what happen now ???? the police looked at me very strange so out came the ladtop put the card from the Gopro in and played back the video well you should of seen the look on the 2 police man faces with great shock to them all what the other people had told them was 100% lies The police men was not happy i could see and told me not to worrie the police went back to the other bike and some very loud talking was takeing place between the police and all the other people for some reason most people left at this point i wonder why lol then the police came back over and told me the other rides have changes their story of events ... and told the police that there was in the far right lane and did not look and cut across the lanes with out looking or indicating .... i got paid out in full 2000 rmb and did not have to pay northing to the other people so get your self a GoPro lads it will save your bacon as it did in my case
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Re: Riding Safe in China - New Rider Guide
Great addition I added this quote of yours to my original narrative because it's so good: '
Quote:
Think that all drivers have tunnel vision do not know how to use a mirror or work a signal'. ...have a exit plan at all times.
I credited you too, great stuff. :thumbsup:
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Re: Riding Safe in China - New Rider Guide
Dear Prince666,
Great post! Thanks for the horror story with the happy ending. Couple of questions/comments:
- Are you saying you just keep the camera running at all times when riding?
- How big is your memory card and what video settings are you using?
- How many minutes/hours of video can it hold?
- Can you program the camera to write over earlier video so that you always have the most recent footage at hand?
- Or do you have to manage that by hand, i.e., erasing the card before every ride?
- (Or does the US National Security Agency just archive it for you? They seem to archive everything else...)
- Have you posted the video of this recent collision on a video sharing site so we can all have a gander?
- Any chance of using a bit more punctuation in your posts to make them less difficult to read?
- How was the the 2000 rmb in compensation determined, and was it adequate to cover your repairs and medical expenses?
Thanks!
euphonius
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Re: Riding Safe in China - New Rider Guide
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That the way to go ???? "GO-PRO"
http://gopro.com/ you cant beat it cost from $300 but beleave me it is the best thing to have on your bike and car 1 week ago rideing my bike dick head chinese bike rider 2 up on far right lane just turns left with out looking right in front of me i hit them SQ on nocked the 2 of there bike lady hurt bad ,the man a few cuts and me all ok my bike nocked up a bit ... poilce came loads of friends of the chinese riders was ganging up agains me saying i was riding to fast and that the other riders done fuck all wrong ??? so i say northing at this time looked very bad for me ??? did not tell them about the Gopro on my bike untill my wife turned up and i told her to bring the laptop with her ??? when all the talking was done from the other side the police come up to me and said i am in deep shit ??? asked why and was told that it is all my fault ??? based on the imfore from all the other people around who said i see what happen ??? ok can i shown you what happen now ???? the police looked at me very strange so out came the ladtop put the card from the Gopro in and played back the video well you should of seen the look on the 2 police man faces with great shock to them all what the other people had told them was 100% lies The police men was not happy i could see and told me not to worrie the police went back to the other bike and some very loud talking was takeing place between the police and all the other people for some reason most people left at this point i wonder why lol then the police came back over and told me the other rides have changes their story of events ... and told the police that there was in the far right lane and did not look and cut across the lanes with out looking or indicating .... i got paid out in full 2000 rmb and did not have to pay northing to the other people so get your self a GoPro lads it will save your bacon as it did in my case
Added go-pro to suggestions....
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Re: Riding Safe in China - New Rider Guide
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Originally Posted by
ZMC888
Great addition I added this quote of yours to my original narrative because it's so good: ' I credited you too, great stuff. :thumbsup:
thank you sir. .... well i was a cycle messenger on and off for a few years after university as well. it let me see the world and work and explore cities. you just learn to have your eyes peeled and darting... i watch traffic and pedestrians like i am a crack addict looking for my next score.
I hate wearing a motorcycle helmet because you can not hear what is around you like you can on a bike.
My famous quote i have been credited for.... if a car or truck door opens in front of you, aim for the soft spot..... the person getting out. I have been door prized once.... that guy saved my life and me from breaking any bones.... him not so lucky... thanks and ride safe. i use a 64 Gb card and reformat it weekly with my gopro. Only used the footage once in Toronto.... bumper to bumper traffic on the 401 highway no one moving. guy backs into my brand new Nissan Pathfinder... says it is my fault. asks me to pay and we can forget it. i say call the chips.... show the video... then cops check .... his story changed. video ended up on the news. 15 other people had the same thing happen to them with the same guy.
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3 Attachment(s)
Re: Riding Safe in China - New Rider Guide
Did take a few pictures on my Iphone
Attachment 11960Attachment 11961Attachment 11962
AS you can see the road was empty nice and long no other cars about that probably why the othe bike rider did not look why should they ????
But please look at the face of the lady rider loads of pain hope it hurt love sorry to say i hit her hard on her leg with my front wheel the old saying is "No pain No gain" well in this case we hope the gain is knowledge ... The knowledge to look first ????
so as i said its not IF it will happen to you it is just a case of WHEN ....
so drive safe
steve