Tuesday, November 02, 2010

Bikes, Rempits & Thieves

The thing that struck me while I was in Hanoi - or should I say brushed by me a half dozen times a day - was the thousands of motorcycles on its streets. Almost overwhelming in number, noise and sheer chaos.

In an ancient city with narrow streets, lanes and backalleys bisecting the endless tubehouses, the motorcycle is the most efficient, cost-effective and cheapest mode of transportation around. Think it's pretty safe to say that the communist government hands every loyal Hanoian an itty little bike at birth. :)

chase
Not as common on the streets here as you'd think.

Yet there are not as many snatch thieves and mat rempits around. At least none that I saw.

Paul : No mat rempits here?
Hanoikid : What are those?
Paul : Bored young idiots who prefer to die young by racing bikes on the streets at midnight.
Hanoikid : Hanoi people work hard. No time to do all that.
Paul : That's actually quite profound in a way.

Same goes for the bustling Chinese megacities as well. Countless numbers of motorcycles on the streets yet not as much street crime.

Which is something I can't say for our country.

Sadly a perennial social problem here. Unruly thugs-on-wheels who participate in illegal street races, snatch thefts and assaults with impunity. A handful smash head-first into walls during their midnight runs but five more hooligans spring up to replace them. Unfortunately our government is a soft touch when it comes to such juvenile delinquents, preferring to spare the rod when it comes to such rotten children.

So much so that our streets aren't at all safe anymore. Even the soft purr of the motorcycle is enough to have us watching our backs.

Sigh.

9 comments:

Kenny Mah said...

"Hanoi people work hard. No time to do all that."

That is indeed profound. I wonder why ours have so much free time,, then. Hmm.

Legolas said...

Lousy police and government here.

Communism is great!

Twilight Man said...

My home is not even safe with patrolling guards outside. Better live in Hanoi.

William said...

I read something similar in the newspaper, asking about why there aren't any Mat Rempit in Jogja. The fella answered, "Polisi tembak".

Vincent~ said...

i heard tat mat rempits are now starting to use cars.... a very scary upgrade though...
love william's comment lolx

sharman said...

make them die in your operating theaters if you ever encounter em. they freaking deserve it.

blue said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
blue said...

just proves that there is nothing wrong with the vehicle but the user...sadly malaysian kids have nothing better to do...too much convenience from the free handouts?

Mr.D said...

and we wonder why they hv overtaken us in FDI.

i second lego's comment, communism has been vilified so much that i am beginning to think that it's better than democracy.