I think I’m a bit too excited to go to Shanghai because today I started brainstorming things I want to do when I get there. One site I came across detailed the ordeal of crossing streets in the city - with incredible accuracy:
“Walking is fine, until you have to cross the road. I can’t decide which is more terrifying, a Shanghai taxi ride or jaywalking with my 80-yr old aunt. We crossed 8 lanes of traffic by taking it one lane at a time. Obviously the white and yellow lane markers are really meant to be very narrow traffic islands for pedestrians to stand on. Many of the busy intersections have overpasses. Use them. Or follow the locals, there is always a crowd waiting to cross, and they ALL jaywalk. There are crossing guards with whistles during rush hour, and no one pays any attention, so just make sure there are enough people between you and oncoming traffic so that you’re not the first one to be hit. A final note: just as you think you’ve made it across, keep looking to your right. There is usually a bike lane by the curb, and you could have a collision with a bicycle after successfully dodging cars. And the bike lane is also used by motorcyclists and tricycle trucks (small flatbeds pulled by a bicycle) so getting hit is no joke.
As for bicycles, only Shanghai residents are allowed to ride. There is no such thing as bike rentals for tourists. They probably lost a few tourists before making up that law. You do not want to be riding a bicycle in Shanghai anyway, I compare those cyclists to WWI pilots - the only reason they’re alive is because they survived long enough to gain enough experience to keep on living.”
