How to cross a road in Lanka without getting killed

A kingcoconut loaded bicycle and some busses

Like in the animal kingdom, the Sri Lankan roads have a hierarchy. If you want to travel ‘like a local’ and you won’t always have a guide or driver around you to help you, you will have to cross a road every once in a while. Also you will experience the crazy Sri Lankan busses. It’s such an adventure, every time again, that I like to share my experiences with you.

The hierarchy of the road:

The lowest place in this hierarchy is taken by the people walking on the road sides, watching their steps because there might be holes in the road. People walk relatively slow in this country, and they don’t really go aside if any vehicle blows their horn. Because it happens every few seconds, and you won't get anywhere if you go aside al the time. But with not going aside, the chances of getting crushed increase.



Also, don't stand in the middle of the road to make the perfect picture

You see quite a lot of bicycles here. Not as much as in the Netherlands, but still. Mostly older men with a lot of baggage, for example a big bunch of kingcoconuts.

The scooters come next, and the motorbikes after that. Very fast and crazy, if helmets are worn, they are mostly just there for decoration. I haven’t worn a single helmet that actually closes up like it’s supposed to. But a creative knot will keep your helmet on your head for most of the time ;) Also it’s the perfect vehicle to transport your five member family and the weekly groceries. At the same time.

Then you have the tuktuks, that fly like colourful birds through every hole and move quite fast. They are fragile as well though, and relatively expensive. To take a passenger tuktuk, will cost you about 50 times the price of the same distance by bus. (about 50 rs per kilometer). They aren't hard to find (except when you need one quickly). They will ask you 'madam you need tuktuk?' every few meters. You also have the bread tuktuks, which are like driving bakeries. You can't miss them because they always play a very loud and false version of Beethovens 'Für Elise' melody. There is a big chance you will wake up with this sound at least once during your stay. I think this is incredible, because this country can't agree on any single rule but the breadtuktuks somehow agreed to all use the same melody all over the country. There are icecream tuktuks as well, with a specific sound. They sell cheap and tasty icecreams. My favorite is the rainbow icecream for 40 rupees.

Nobody cares

The cars are relatively safe and comfortable, depending on the level of craziness of your driver.


How could I forget about the lorries and pick up trucks? There are the beautiful colourfull lorries which are transporting anything you could think of, from fruits to animals to elephants. 

An overloaded lorry in Pettah, Colombo

Then there are the pick up trucks, which also transport anything but mostly with an extra bunch of people. So a truck fully loaden with wood and 5 people standing on top or next to it, is quite common. Also sometimes they're used as a way to transport a family that is bigger than five members, so they don't fit on a scooter. Of course, they need a nice seat. So they just move there livingroom couch to the pick up truck and there you are, luxury open air family transportation!

The king of the road is definitely the bus. The express busses race. Not just fast, but highspeed. They blow their horn if something doesn’t get out of the way immediately. Some busses are slow, but still you shouldn’t ever get in their way. They win, I promise.

Crossing the road


Crossing the road in Colombo at sunset

Keep in mind this hierarchy. Depending on the speed of the vehicles, you can cross the road just by showing enough attitude. If you act like you are going to cross anyway, even if they wouldn’t stop, they will stop. BUT DON’T EVER TRY THIS WITH BUSSES. Jump aside, hide, run away. Don’t ever try to get in the way of a bus. It’s like getting in the way of an angry elephant. Just don’t.

As soon as you don’t see any busses, hold your hand up like a stop sign, close your eyes, take a deep breath and walk.

You will probably survive.

 

*The author is not responsible for any accidents or damage on account of this blog.

**I love this country. This blog is just meant to be funny and informative.