Stopping Traffic
Posted on | September 27, 2009 | Comments Off
So, Mason and I set out to explore a little bit this morning. He had never seen the ocean, and from the Media Village facilities, it is a short two minute walk to the waves. You only need to cross a main street running along the shore.
Luckily, there is a cross walk, equipped with a light and everything. So we pushed the button. The red crossing man turned green, much quicker than it does usually in the states. Then to my right I heard the squeal of brakes. Not car brakes, but bicycle brakes. Dozens of them.
Now I called this road a main road, but it was actually only two lanes, with hardly a shoulder on either side. But as I looked right, I saw 40 cyclists … very serious … in stretched shorts and shirts, and the lead biker was hitting his brakes and signaling for everyone else to stop as well.
“No, Danny, keep going,” shouted one of the others in the lead.
Of course, keep going, I thought. There were thirty-nine cyclists behind him, all in a rhythm, all with momentum, and all going to stop on this little two lane road for one guy and a baby in his arms? But Danny was committed.
He brought his bike to a stop, and half a dozen other bikes in the front with him. The rest were doing the same, like a slinky closing up on itself.
I wasn’t quit ready for this. I mean, sure the light went green, but I had my little guy in my arms. I wasn’t just going to jump into the street and trust traffic to stop for me. I don’t know the rules here in South Africa. In most places in the world the pedestrian doesn’t have the right of way.
Then one of the fellas in the front — who sounded like the one who shouted, “Danny, keep going” — shouted again, but this time at me, “Just … for you.”
The pack of bikers now all coming to a stop and Danny staring at me and grinning. “Just for me?” I echoed.
“Just for you!”
What do you know, not two minutes from the front door of Media Village, on my first steps out into South Africa, and I was already making friends.
Having a fantastic time. Thanks for your prayers.
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