Eric's Beijing Diary

Well, I had a crash today. I was coming from Wudaoko heading East along the North side of the campus, making my way to my office in the Shining Tower. This guy was going the wrong way in the bicycle lane and I could see that he was headed right for me. Nothing so unusual about that; it happens every day. And when I say "wrong way," I use the term very loosely. Who is to determine which way is "right" and which is "wrong?" Is a given direction "wrong" just because you are the only one who is going that direction? Well, he certainly didn't seem to think so. I tried to avoid him, but he seemed to be determined to hit me. I don't know....perhaps he was thinking the same thing ("Why is this idiot foreigner heading right at me?"). Still, I couldn't help wondering what self preservation skills he might be lacking. Generally, the knowledge that failing to alter one's course could lead to disaster tends to persuade even the most resolute. It's called "Mutually Assured Destruction." Anyway, for whatever reason, he was not persuaded. Full-speed, head-on collision. We both went flying. It's a dangerous world out there.