Kamikaze Riders in Kiev

Hello from Ukraine,

We have embarked on a mission to adopt three children with Down syndrome from Vorzel, Ukraine.

On our way to the orphanage, our driver, not knowing what I did for a living, pointed to a speeding motorcyclist and said…”kamikaze”. In the best English he could muster, he explained many riders start their journey but never can be sure they will reach their destination.

After only a few days of observing traffic conditions here in Kiev, I can understand why. It seems anything goes. If you are stuck in bumper to bumper you can make your own lane, literally. Drivers here give filtering a new definition. I have seen cars drive the wrong way on the opposing lanes shoulder, right down the middle of the road, and run their lanes shoulder.

Our driver, attempting to overtake a long line of stopped traffic, turned into the opposing lane and rode that for a while right into a right-hand bend where there was a scooter approaching. The rider was surprised but adjusted. Good thing he was on the nearside (road edge) which gave him a little time to react.

I am not feeling that Highway Safety is top on the priority list here in the Ukraine.

I have seen of few big bikes but most are smaller, the majority are scooters. Most riders seem to favor the nearside position.

On my next post I’ll try to get some pics. I haven’t gotten fast enough with my pocket camera yet.