In Chengdu, crossing the street is an adventure, like playing the real-life game of Frogger.
Crossing the street can be death-defying in downtown Chengdu
where the car is King.
Is it like that everywhere in China? Is there anywhere else like this? Reply to this It is like this in many places in China. And elsewhere - go to Cairo and the only time you can cross a street is at rush hour when the traffic is completely blocked up. There is a similar situation in Greece, although at least here most cars stop at a red light. I believe it has to do with the tradition of having a car. In the rich parts of the world we have had cars for so long so it is not THE status symbol. In other parts having a car is being king, literally, of the road as it has only recently become possible for middle and lower income people to afford a car.
Plus, possibly, the lack of an efficient traffic police department. California is probably the most pedestrian friendly place on earth as even in many European countries the pedestrians do not have right of way (or you can't trust the drivers to honor it).
Reply to this I also had this impression in Chengdu. And I can add that taking the bus there is an unforgettable experience. I thought the bus driver was driving in a rally race... with a bus : it was short on the right and on the left but the bus kept going on and even overtaking ! But the place is really worth seeing !
Reply to this As a Chengdunese I have to have a strong heart... I ride my bicycle to work everyday and last month I have seen 9 road accidents most of them involve a scooter.
Reply to this Same all over China and most of Asia for that fact. But the bigger the higher on the "Food Chain" it is in China, pedestrians being the lowest so be careful. When we first moved to Shenzhen in 2009, the drivers would actually speed up and honk their horn at you when you crossed in a crosswalk even.
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