I know it seems as though I have already written a lot on transportation here, but seeing what I am seeing, I know that I have not begun to cover what driving around here is like. So, here are a few more observations I have made while getting from one place to another:
• MORE than one of my taxi drivers during my time in Africa has read and sent text messages while we are on the roads, busy roads.
• Since Kenya was colonized by the British, the driver sits on the opposite side of the car and you drive on the opposite side of the road. One would think this shouldn’t be too hard for me to adjust to since I am not driving, but that is not the case. It took me walking to the wrong side of the car to get in a couple times before I began to remember. And about walking places, today is the first day that I made note of myself looking RIGHT before crossing the street without thinking about it. It has taken me four days to get into that habit. (Tripp knows how important this is from our time in England.)
• Speed bumps are everywhere. And, they aren’t really speed BUMPS. They are more like speed HILLS. They aren’t painted bright yellow or with stripes so you just better know your roads or be watching carefully. Some speed hills are so big that all four wheels of your car are on the same hill at the same time. Some of the bumps are American size, but these come in sets of three.
• A taxi driver stopping en route to your destination is not uncommon. I have sat in the car multiple times while my driver got gas or snacks or a drink. It seems to be a pretty casual system around here.
• Speaking of getting gas with a taxi driver: today, my driver stopped and while the gas station attendant was putting gas in the car, my driver never turned off the car! I may be wrong, but I think that is illegal in the States.
• In Kenya, there still aren’t many law enforcers. The law exists, definitely, but it is kind of up to your conscience if you are going to follow it... that and the speed bumps help a bit.
• Taxis make multiple turning lanes wherever they please. Where we would wait in line to turn one at a time, here it is fine to have up to three cars turning at the same time... from one lane. Speaking of lanes... they don’t really exist. I suppose that some places have lanes painted, but not so much observed, even if they are there. The best way I can describe traffic patterns would be an amusement park thrill ride.
• There are more bikes here. People of all age ride them and they often have a big basket on the back stacked high with belongings. Kenyans must have strong legs because there are a TON of hills here, as I mentioned earlier.
• Before driving on some roads and in some communities, there are gates you must pass through. In the States, these gates are often automatic. Here and in Northern Africa, a gate worker lifts the gate for you to pass under. And, this is how it works: on one end of the gate there is a huge weight, the size of a large box that would be hard to get your arms around. The other end of the gate has a rope tied to it. The gate worker ties the gate down against the pull of the weight to keep the gate closed. Then, when someone needs to pass through the gate, he unties the rope and gently lowers the weight, lifting the gate. (A side note: in Northern Africa, the weights were actually large rocks, not box weights.)
• Many people can’t drive in Northern Africa and in Kenya. (In Kenya, only 10% of people own cars and in Northern Africa, I would imagine the number is even smaller.) HOWEVER, aside from the regular traffic police, MANY people direct traffic. This includes the guard at your own house, pedestrians crossing the street or even drivers in other cars. If someone thinks you are going to hit something, especially backing up, people will always help by banging loudly on your car.
I think I am going to drive like the Africans when I get home... just kidding!
Again: I have to say, this place is incredible. Really, though. I love it. :)
Laura
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