The first time I ever rode a motorbike was in Rome (no shit, and yes I knew it was a bad idea).
In the morning I tried to be careful, stay out of the way of cars, and people kept honking and cursing. I think I nearly died trying to get out of a traffic circle.
Over lunch I was informed “motorbikes go where they want to go and assume that cars will work around them, the cars expect that too, you trying to defer to them is what’s fucking things up”.
Yeah, Boston’s the same. If you’re trying to get where you’re going and you get in someone’s way, they’re fine with it. If you’re in the way because you’re timid, they’ll hate you for it. It takes some getting used to but it actually makes sense.
Also, it works (for a certain definition) - Boston is #3 in the nation for minor accidents but absolute lowest in the nation for fatalities. We’ll smack into you maybe, but when the chips are down we’re able to do what’s right. There’s some kind of overall statement about the city’s culture there I think.
The first time I ever rode a motorbike was in Rome (no shit, and yes I knew it was a bad idea).
In the morning I tried to be careful, stay out of the way of cars, and people kept honking and cursing. I think I nearly died trying to get out of a traffic circle.
Over lunch I was informed “motorbikes go where they want to go and assume that cars will work around them, the cars expect that too, you trying to defer to them is what’s fucking things up”.
And he was right.
Yeah, Boston’s the same. If you’re trying to get where you’re going and you get in someone’s way, they’re fine with it. If you’re in the way because you’re timid, they’ll hate you for it. It takes some getting used to but it actually makes sense.
Also, it works (for a certain definition) - Boston is #3 in the nation for minor accidents but absolute lowest in the nation for fatalities. We’ll smack into you maybe, but when the chips are down we’re able to do what’s right. There’s some kind of overall statement about the city’s culture there I think.