Monday, May 09, 2005

funny little motorbikes

I just realised that we haven't really spoken about this particular issue yet. So here goes.

In the capital, Tunis, and actually everywhere that we've been, there appear to be three primary forms of transportation - public/walking, which most people apparently hate; cars, which are mostly the pint-sized euro-ecomomical variety; and funny little motorbikes and scooters. The scooters aren't such a new or impressive thing, and indeed you all know what I'm talking about in that case, but the motorbikes are another story.

Largely made by the French automaker, Peugeot, these little puppies are relatively cheap to buy (cars are psychotically expensive here), cheap on gas (which is about on par with north american prices - and expensive relative to the average wage here) and don't require a license (under 110 ccs). They are popular and they are bizarre. But a description is in order.

Imagine the general trappings of a motorbike made smaller and kind of stupid. There's a wheel in the back and a wheel in the front, for starters. The engine and gas tank are both under the seat (which strikes me as a touch stupid) and the buggers spit out their poorly-burned fuel out of an exhaust pipe near their rear wheel. Then there's the weirder bit. They have pedals which serve a dual purpose. The pedals help you to initially turn over the engine (no starters) and they provide a little extra oomph for going up steep (read: poorly thought out - and there are many) roads if the 'vehicle' is in less than optimum condition. There are very few in optimum condition.

I think they're hilarious. What's even better/scarier is the way that people ride them. Even though they have no power, the aggressive owners persist in weaving in and around mostly faster traffic - without helmets, with their wife or buddy clinging on behind them, sitting side-saddle and ignoring the traffic lights. Of course, not all of the drivers do this, since some have ambitions in life that don't include being roadkill, but then the many stupid ones are particularly noticeable.

It's like taking an old Citroen out to the F1 circuit for a spin. Sure it might be exhilerating for a moment, and maybe you can kind of forget that your car's not formula one, but not for very long.

1 Comments:

At 5:27 p.m., Blogger Dunctonsteel said...

Hi peeps! So, I thought I'd pass along another poetic snippet; laugh all you want, but perhaps some useful feedback too? Thanks!



And where is humanity?
Value through paper,
But forgotten in flesh and blood.

Broken thoughts,
Lack of ingenuity,
save for polypropylene production.

Love driven mad,
No escape from a stark reality,
save in the dark.

To forget and gain,
But to lose all actuality,
Ay there’s the rub.

Rebirth in a confined space,

To live in tune but dissonant with reality?

-Nathan May 08

 

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