Fuddland

I remember watching an interview with Keanu Reeves around the time that Speed came out, in which he was asked how he felt doing his own stunts — in particular, during the car-chase scenes. He said that the stunt coordinator had taken him to one side before filming and reassurred him that he could drive as erratically as he wanted down the motorway, weaving across the lanes at high speed — all the other cars were being driven by professional stunt drivers, and they would never come anywhere near him.

It’s the same approach you need to take to crossing the streets and, in particular, the cycle-lanes in Sūzhōu (苏州).

There are clearly-defined road-markings, but sometimes drivers decide to take a little short-cut, or cut the occasional corner, so there’s really no way to predict the movements of the average vehicle: you just have to step out and keep moving. He who hesitates gets hit head-on, as the new saying goes.

#1

Thanatos | 2006 / 06 / 28 – 21:32

Ah, the memories… I remember the day I wanted to change a traveller’s cheque and Mama agreed to help me…

We needed to cross that big road in Benxi, down in front of the post office, and clearly she didn’t trust my ability to adapt to the traffic of my new surroundings. She took my arm, as you would a five year-old, and practically dragged me through the six lanes of traffic!

I do miss a good Chinese road-crossing (looks off into the distance nostagically).

#2

David | 2006 / 06 / 28 – 22:07

Re #1: I’m sure you could relive old times with the help of a couple of mates willing to drive at high speed towards you… ;)

#3

thanatos | 2006 / 06 / 28 – 22:10

I could, but, you know, now that I think about it, I’m not actually that sure I want my life threatened quite THAT authentically…

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