Crossing an intersection

Chengdu has several large and busy intersection. The population of Chengdu has risen to around 13 million.

Change is constantly happening. Two-way streets become one-way streets. Highway under construction allow vehicles with license plates ending in an odd number to use the highway on odd number days (for example: August 11, 13) and license plates ending with an even number on even number days (for example, April 12, 14).

A couple of weeks ago, during rush hour, I was biking home and stopped at a very large intersection. The way these intersections used to work is two wheeled vehicles crossing the road against one another has a 30 foot wide section of road to share while crossing at an intersection, and pedestrians has a 30 feet wide section of an intersection.

At off-peak time about 100 or so would cross this particular intersection. Rush hour the number may rise up to more than 200. When these vehicles get to the other side of the road, they enter a funnel-like part of the road when these 50-100 travelers and vehicles need to squeeze into a 12 feet, and then a little further on into a 4-6 feet wide area to continue their journey.

I am now at this intersection: No 1 Ring Road and People's Road. I wanted to cross from the SE corner to the SW corner, then the traffic attendant flagged me to cross over to the NE corner. I said that I would then have to cross over to the NW corner and then cross a third time to the SW corner to continue my bike home. She nodded in the affirmative. I noticed several police officers giving tickets to people who were not cooperating. I decided to do as I was flagged and proceeded to cross the No 1 Ring Road to the NE corner. As I was crossing the ring road I noticed that no one was coming against our traffic.

When I arrived at the NE corner and was waiting to cross People's Road to the NW corner, I looked around the intersection and realized that the two wheel and pedestrian traffic was being directed in a counter-clockwise pattern. Incredible! The traffic patrol and police officers were at least doubled for this transition. At least 5-8 police officers and 10-12 traffic attendants were at this particular intersection; they were being successful in their efforts.

I have returned to this intersection since I wrote the above story and have leaned that it is primarily true during rush hour. At least during rush hour it will take me longer to get to where I am going, but at least I will not have to confront 50-100 people coming towards me every time I cross the intersection.

It can be amazing and very creative how the traffic officials try to manage the ever-increasing car, electric bikes, scooters and pedestrian traffic in Chengdu.