The Road-Runners of São Paulo

While driving in São Paulo, the cartoon, "The Road Runner and the Coyote," seems to be played out on the streets. In the cartoon the coyote is arming ways in which to catch the road-runner. The road-runner blissfully races down the road and the only sound he makes is "beep-beep."

The trip from our apartment to the ministry center of only 15 1/2 miles one way may take up to 2 hours depending on the traffic and time of day. As we drive from our apartment to the ministry center, we watch the motorcyclists claim their white line as they race between several rows of cars. Most of the time you hear them coming up behind you with a roar and then a series of beep-beeps.

But if you are distracted while changing lane, you might become the coyote trying to wipe out the road-runner. We have seen a bus and a truck become coyotes as they put the squeeze on the motorcycle. With your heart in your throat, it is amazing to watch the cyclist lean one way, then the other and with a final beep-beep escape the squeeze.

Sometimes the street vendor will share his space in the traffic with the road-runner. The road-runner almost always wins.

In 2008 they estimated at least 600,000 motorcycles in the city of São Paulo of 6 million vehicles. There are at least one cyclist's death per day in this city. We wonder why not more? São Paulo also has more helicopters flying above it than any other mega-city of the world.

In the 14 months of living and driving in São Paulo, we have seen two accidents involving motorcyclists. We pray for safety every time our car leaves the garage. This is one of the challenges of living in this metropolis.

Reporting from São Paulo,

Arlene for the Flurrys