Riding a Yamaha Fino is Singapore is fun, economical, and easy. The good news is that Singapore is motorcycle friendly with regards to parking, road tolls, and access. There is one drawback. One must never assume that car and truck drivers are aware of you. Initially I thought it was a form of sport. With time, I realized that they genuinely do not see you. Anything on two wheels is invisible.
One can try to challenge drivers, however they are bigger. One can try to educate through hand-signals. So far the best response so far is reciprocal hand-signals. Driving blindness simply is.
Recently I was coming up to a stoplight, riding large in the middle of my lane. I had checked my speed because I could see two traffic police standing beside their car watching me approach. As I neared the light, a taxi blissfully and blindly decided that he wanted to move into my lane to be first in line. The taxi did not make a turn on your blinker, wait an appropriate length of time, and then look over your shoulder turn. He just turned – without notice, without hesitation.
A quick duck to the left and I squeezed beside the taxi and the curb at the light. It was interesting to see his surprised at my face inches off the glass of the left door. He had no idea I was beside him.
The lead policeman pointed at me and then pointed to the taxi motioning with a handwriting signal. The message was clear; did I want them to write him up?
I do not think Singapore is going to change quickly when it comes to noticing motorcycles. I am also sure that I have cut someone off on at least one occasion. Some old words came to mind; “These court cases are an ugly blot on your community. Wouldn’t it be far better to just take it, to let yourselves be wronged and forget it?” (1 Corinthians 6.7)
I shook my head and smiled. This was a moment for forgiveness not justice.
