I am including the URLs to two YouTube videos that will give you an idea of the traffic in Chiang Mai. Actually, in the first video, the traffic seems lighter than we usually see it, but it was taken a few years ago, so many that’s the difference.
Anyway, my hat is definitely off to anyone who can negotiate the traffic here. The Grab drivers we use all the time are masters. Not only can they get where they’re going, they know short cuts, ways to detour around problems, and make it seem effortless.
The people on motorcycles and motor scooters have been driving these since they were very young. I don’t know what the driving age is for these, but they start out as passengers with their parents, so by the time they are doing the driving, it’s no big deal to them. They zip in and out, knowing exactly how much room they need to go between cars and right up to others on motorcycles and motorcycles in front of them.
Add people on bicycles, people on vehicles loaded up with all kinds of materials piled up, tied on, sticking out in all directions, and then there are the pedestrians.
I am beyond grateful that everyone seems to be taking all this in stride. Brian says there are accidents all the time, including ones between vehicles and pedestrians, but I haven’t seen anything, thank goodness, in the almost 7 months I have lived here.
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