Bike riders in the rain

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lukereg ViP

Member since 24 November 2009

lukeregViP02 October 2016 00:40:43

2114

It's raining more now as Indonesia entered the rainy season so expect the following:

Riders will stop under bridges, underpasses, trees to shelter from the rain as they don't have rain coats or the intelligence to carry rain coats so traffic becomes congested
Riders tend to ride even more erratically due to being in a hurry not to get wet
Those with ponchos will not realise that their bikes indicators can no longer be seen so be careful going round them
Riders will make more sudden moves as they deserve lot the way of puddles which could put holes

However, there are lots bike riders in the rain so the roads are slightly less full.

Cars will go slower for those brave enough to let their cars get wet in the rain but have a tendency to drive more in the middle of the road.

Personally if I can I will ride in the rain as there is less traffic and seek out the bus lanes as they are still empty and the police won't be ticketing anything when there is a storm.

But remember as soon as the rain stops then everything starts up again and the traffic gets worse as noone likes to get splashed or ride in the wetter parts of the road.

Fred Indonesia Expert

Member since 02 August 2009

A smile is the universal welcome.
Max Eastman

FredIndonesia Expert02 October 2016 00:48:53

28583

Nice post, and 100% correct in every details save I'm unsure it's intelligence at the heart of the issue (not excluding the possibility for a good number), more the total lack of forward planning that is so common here.
Bike, rainy season = carry waterproofs, but only if you bother to think an hour into the future.
The references to bad riding are a mix of zero road training and the mentioned inability to think ahead, meaning the riders commonly put themselves in impossible positions.
Double that for rainy season when they try to rush home.

lukereg ViP

Member since 24 November 2009

lukeregViP02 October 2016 00:56:36

2114

One of my new teachers who is Indonesian did not own a coat and after telling me it was raining and he would be late due to no coat was told quite simply how I felt about that and his job. He has a nice blue rain suit now.

It's a general lack of everything I think.

Fred Indonesia Expert

Member since 02 August 2009

A smile is the universal welcome.
Max Eastman

FredIndonesia Expert02 October 2016 01:00:36

28583

lukereg wrote:
One of my new teachers who is Indonesian did not own a coat and after telling me it was raining and he would be late due to no coat was told quite simply how I felt about that and his job. He has a nice blue rain suit now.

It's a general lack of everything I think.

Much as I tend to side with 'going with the flow' as far as expats in any country are concerned, "Business is business" wins over that.
You can't run a business if the employees can't be bothered to think ahead, something they should be doing in every aspect of their job.

Your less than subtle reminder might well be a good idea for a staff meeting about 'being prepared'.

Hansson Guest

HanssonGuest02 October 2016 01:25:23

214245

lukereg wrote:
One of my new teachers who is Indonesian did not own a coat and after telling me it was raining and he would be late due to no coat was told quite simply how I felt about that and his job. He has a nice blue rain suit now.

It's a general lack of everything I think.

Excellent post Luke. A plastic raincoat is very useful if you ride a motorbike or bicycle,

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