Ryan Has A Bad Experience In Shanghai:

So, I was setting off on a morning ride to meet a new Fixed

Gear Crew here in Shanghai. I had made it two blocks when

I was stopped at a light. I arrived to the intersection first so 

I stopped at the thick white line and track standed while 

waiting for the light. While waiting, about 2 dozen scooters 

and bikes passed me in line so they could wait ahead of me

in the middle of the crosswalk. So, the light turns green and

we all start to move and since I am faster than everyone I start

to wait for opportunities to pass on the left (because that what

you are supposed to do, right?). As I am passing a scooter on the 

left, the guy jerks left and hits the brakes. His handle bar mitten

catches my handle bar and we both eat it right their on Dalian Rd.

I tumbled right as to not fall into traffic and my bike slid left and 

the rear tire got run over by a bus. So, Adrenaline kicks in instantly

and I get to my feet in a single fluid movement. I check to see if the

guy is OK, he yelled something at me, then I picked my bike up and

set it up on the side walk. As soon as I turned around I was greeted

by a group (I don't think the word "mob" would be applicable) of 

roughly 40 Chinese people. Of said 40 Chinese people, zero english

ability (which would later become an advantage, but was terrifying

at the time). 

So, it is time I take a break in my story to explain what I like to call

"Chinese Street Justice". In the event of an accident, unlike in the 

States/Western world, police are not called, information/insurances

is not traded, no reports are file. The law to land is that anyone and

everyone that heard or saw the accident would essential assemble 

around the damage. It would then be determined who was "at fault".

Now I put at fault in quotation marks because actual fault has very 

little to do with the verdict. Rather, who every is assumed to have

the most money should be the one who pays the RMB amount that

is deemed sufficient by the group/mob. In the event that a taxi VW

Santana hits a Parked Mercedes, the Mercedes owner would be the 

one to pay as a measure to "save face" with the local public. So this

public "Judge/Jury/Executioner" style or justice might not be the 

most accurate or unbiased, but it is much quicker than the US Judicial

System.

So, If you have not gathered from the last paragraph, this system put

me at a tremendous disadvantage. While the gentleman in my mind 

clearly at fault because he turned left and stopped with out warning,

signaling or reason, this would play little to no effect in what was 

about to happen. I was scared to no end. There were 40 people 

pointing at me and yelling in a language that I could not even begin

to understand. The "Plaintiff" kept pointing at at his knee which was

scraped and the side mirror which was cracked, then he would point

to his hand in an attempt to get me to understand that he wanted 

money. Other random members of the crowd would touch/prod 

my bike and estimate damages audibly, a few pointed to my head,

which I assume was because I was wearing my "Italia" cycling cap

(yes, under my helmet mom and dad). I am fairly certain nobody

in the crowd has seen the incident to accurately assign blame, they

just looked at my shiny new John Deere bike and his crappy old

electric scooter to determine who would be paying who. I had been

briefed on Chinese Street Justice earlier in my stay so I was keen

on how to approach the situation. I would not expose any money,

I was definitely not going to let them see my iPhone or my Camera

in the Chrome bag and try not to expose any sort of wealth. At first

I kept saying "ting pu dong" which means "I don't understand" in

Mandarin, however, when this did not seem to phase their relentless

use of the language I made clear to them was not understandable, I

simply started speaking a combination of English/Italian. I figured

they probably would really notice the difference between the two

and does America need any more people hating it? After playing 

ignorant and italian for 25 minutes I decided we were done here.

I picked up my bike and started to walk away, where the Plaintiff

whose knee was horribly damaged moments ago (sarcasm), jumped

at me and pulled my bike to the ground to ensure I did not leave.

However, 20 minutes after that, they gave up on trying to get money

out of me and I walked my bike home to disassemble the rear wheel.

A little road rash on my left elbow and left hand. My body seems to

protect my head and iPhone in the event of collision. The bike was

fine aside from the rear wheel, which is getting fixed at Speed Cats

for 60RMB ($9).

Adrenaline wore off 2 hours later. Scariest moment of my life.

Bar None.