Cape Town - Heavy traffic, long-hours behind the wheel... what does your daily commute to work entail?
For most South Africans, being bogged down in bumper-to-bumper traffic for hours is a sad reality of using our roads. Then there's the return trip...
Ever wondered what it's like to ride to work in other African countries? A video gives us a glimpse into the daily life of one scooter rider.
Riding a 'Piki Piki'
Scooter rider Andy Brown filmed his daily commute to work in Nairobi, Kenya. In the video, he leaves his home, weaves through traffic, makes his way onto a busy highway. His vehicle of choice? A scooter or what locals refer to as a piki piki in Swahili (suppose we'd call it a poegie).
Brown says he passes 320 vehicles in seven minutes on his piki piki. In the clip he claims that had been driving a car, the trip could take up to two hours. His scooter enables him to complete the trip in 30 minutes.
READ: How to get your motorcycle summer ready in SA
Despite getting to work on time, Brown says he has to contend with buses, trucks, animals, pedestrians and 'matatus' (minibus taxis).
Check out the video:
Safety tips for bikers
Arrive Alive lists important safety tips for motorbike riders:
• Increase your visibility, wear brightly coloured gear and ride with your high-beam on.
• Ride defensively, yes increase the safety zone around you and keep it that way.
• Increase and maintain a reaction safe following distance.
• Know that they are probably not “Thinking Bike”, so you “Think Car”.
• Act on but don’t react on behaviour of other road users or “cagers” as we like to call them.
• Don't tailgate.
• Don’t block the lane.
• Use your indicator and use your hooter sparingly.
• No aggressive language, abusive hand gestures and no kicking at cars.
• Leave your competitiveness for the track.
• Don't react to another driver's uncivil behaviour; avoid eye contact.
• Don't be tempted to start a fight or pull any sort of weapon.